Cash Clan Japan

Keith here. So, I have had some extra time on my hands (though not much it seems) due to my vacation. Well, today was a particularly glorious day during the twilight hours. In fact the past few days have been amazing as I have looked out the window around 6:30pm to notice the sun turning the clouds into a sorbet orange color, which then reflected onto everything below causing it to take on the same hue. Well, today I got an even greater glimpse. One that, dare I say it, reflects God’s true allegiance to sports by a stunning display of blue and orange. It was as if He was calling to me personally saying “Yes Keith, I am a Broncos fan, as I have written my love for them across the sky.” Now, some of you may not agree or even care, which is fine. I will be praying for God to forgive you on the day of Judgement when He asks you what your true colors are.

Just so you know this is based on a true event and not a figment of my imagination, here is a stunning picture painted by the Master Himself:

I had the chance to watch this documentary a few days ago, and I was quite surprised by the research of Rick Larson in his quest to find the truth behind the myth of the star. Larson uses both a scientific and Biblical approach to separate the myth from the facts. Then, by piecing the facts together and using a program that can accurately show the placement and movement of stars, he stumbles upon an incredible discovery.

Now, I’m not going to analyze this movie like Ebert and Roeper, but just add a personal aside to this documentary. In this day and age it can be extremely difficult to find the work and beauty of God. We spend so much time looking at the ground level that we forget the vast expanse that lies above us. An ever expanding universe cries out that God is real, alive, and shining down upon us all. This movie in particular displays God’s mighty power by showing how He alone is in charge of the heavenly hosts. There is no detail about the universe that was placed by mistake or happenstance. It seems that it takes greater faith to think that the entire universe, as well as the intricate creations around us, could be formed outside the hands of a Creator. Yet, I see this movie championing God’s mighty power to hold all things together and to even hold control over the stars and other celestial beings. What great power is in the hands of our mighty God. All I can do is shudder in fear at His amazing power, and stand in awe at His desire to make Himself known and available to us.

So, I offer a challenge to you during this Christmas season. Give this movie a fair viewing if you have not seen it. I challenge you to ask God to show you this Christmas season in a new light. Look up to the stars on a clear night and ponder the vast expanse above, and then think about the grand design that God has poured out before us all. We have reason to celebrate this season for there is no one like God, and we have a reminder through the birth of His son.

One of the great pleasures that I take away from my job has to be the many hilarious stories that happen within my week. Not only do I get to enjoy the funny moments here at home, but my weeks are typically highlighted by a story or two from my classroom. I will keep this as an ongoing series, so that you can enjoy the funny and strange stories of my life. Get out the popcorn and a nice beverage of choice and enjoy.

So, the great Bill Cosby was right in saying that kids say (and do) the darndest things. This very thought is what makes my job so great. Here is one recent happening. I have one student who is new to my classroom. During the first few months in my room I have noticed his fascination with water. This has happened a couple years before with another student, but he (we’ll call him K) has taken this fetish to new heights. Day after day, I find myself chasing and shooing him away from the sinks in my room only to see him turning them on seconds later. Bear in mind that I have four sinks in my room, and he manages to turn between one and three on in a matter of seconds. What to do, what to do. Then, by complete accident, I stumbled upon a solution. I had a lesson on rain a couple weeks ago. I focus on easy things to learn since I’m dealing with 3, 4, and 5 year olds. So, one day I bring out a rain stick to show the kids. I walk around with the stick as they play in different parts of the room. As a get closer to K I turn the stick over and back to make the rain sound. Surely he would love this because he loves water. WRONG! A face of great panic appears and he darts to the other side of the room. Well, as Lisa can testify to, I like to antagonize others sometimes. For my work I consider it research. So I continue to follow K around the room swishing the stick back and forth. He continues to run in sheer terror. (I know, I’m horrible, but it works). Then it hits me. I have the very thing that will keep him from the water. So I have been using this water fetish deterrent with resounding success. I have even been able to get him to run away from the sink when he hears “Let me go get the rain stick.” He runs to the other side of the room every time. Never in my life did I imagine teaching a child to stop playing with water by using a rain stick, but sometimes ‘You gotta do whatcha gotta do!’

Wow, I have finally arrived! Lisa has been wanting to do this for a long time, but my slow typing skills have been causing me to think that it wouldn’t be a very good idea. Yet, here I am, typing random thoughts and wondering what in the world I want to write about in my first post. Well, how about a nice story for starters.

So, as I’m sure most parents do, I will begin by sharing a story of one of my dear children (Adam). It begins on a Saturday as I am getting the kids ready for a trip in the morning. They have warm clothes, nice smelling teeth, full bellies, and joyful personalities. I think “Man, things are going pretty good so far,” and then it happens. CRASH! SCREAM!! I race five feet around the door between my room and Ben’s room to find Ben’s giant dresser lying face down on top of Adam with Ben hanging on the side. My mind races with the thoughts of searching for broken bones, lacerations, any sign of severe pain. Yet, I also begin to ponder “How in the WORLD did my two sons manage to pull this dresser down!” Scrambling to pick up the dresser, I then grab both screaming boys in my arms for some fast and intense praying as I scan both of their bodies. Ben seems to be unharmed, but Adam suffered a severe blow to the head. A goose bump to be technical for any aspiring doctors out there. (Aside: I have many stories I can share that mirror these events I now share with you). After 15 minutes of crying, he seemed to perk up for the rest of the day.

Flash forward to the next day. Adam and I are playing with some of his new toys before dinner. The goose bump is getting smaller and is probably the farthest thing from his mind. Well, we strike up a good game of ‘pass the football’ by using this tiny toy football. I throw it to him in the hallway and he zips it back to me in the toy room. We are quickly becoming masters at this impromptu game, and then it happens again. SLIP! SMACK!! silence, then SCREAM!!! Adam, in the midst of a very powerful toss, slips on the floor and lands sideways in the hall hitting his forehead on the corner of the baseboard. The silence seemed like an eternity (parents, you know what I’m talkin’ about). Then, he belts out a primal scream which was louder than the day before. Luckily, I had reinforcements that came quickly to his aid. I stood in utter shock thinking “What else is going to happen?” As I’m typing this, Lisa informs me that on this third day he managed to high-five the wall with, you guessed it, his head! Needless to say, Adam is now serving out the rest of his days in a bubble. Sorry man, society has become a menace to you!