Faith, family, education

On a whim, a few days ago I decided to start a blog. I’m not sure why. You may be reading my first and last entry. I am not obligated to continue it. I’m not being paid nor expected to keep it up. It’s my blog and I’ll update it if and when I feel like it, thank you.

I’ve thought that if I ever became a professional author I would write instruction manuals.  A typical e-mail to my coworkers is along the lines of “How to Set the Homepage in Google Chrome in 7 Easy Steps.” I think in terms of numbered lists, so this will be a bit of a stretch for me.

So what will I write about? I suspect topics will relate to one or a combination of three roles that I play.

I am, first of all, a Jesus follower. Not a perfect one, mind you, but this is my intent and life’s quest. My other roles fall into place around this one.

I am a member of a family, a son, husband, father, grandfather (five times, going on six), and uncle. Family is of prime importance to me.

I am a teacher. I have wanted to be a teacher since fifth grade. To be honest, I don’t feel like being a teacher every day I go to work, but after 39 years it is still a privilege to view the wonders of our world through the eyes of children.

Oh, yes, the name of my blog. After extended reflection (of 20 minutes or so) I chose “pressed down, shaken together, running over.” Taken out of context, this phrase from Luke 6:38 might be interpreted to reflect that life in this world weighs us down. We do often feel pressured and jostled, with more woes than we can contain.

The whole verse, however, reads, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (NIV) This is a promise of incomprehensible blessings promised to Jesus followers!

A first-century Middle-Easterner would have appreciated this analogy. An honest seller of grain in the marketplace would make sure his customer received the full measure he was due, the grain being pressed down in the container, then filled to the top again, shaken to settle it, then filled once more, overflowing to the point that the buyer had to catch the excess in the pouch of his robe.

I don’t believe that God is a cosmic vending machine: insert obedience, receive blessings in equal measure. I do, however, believe that faithful Jesus followers become aware of and able to receive the generous blessings that He wants to give all His children if they are simply willing to open their hearts and their lives to accept them.

Well, you’ve read all the way to the end of my first (only?) blog. No promises.