There are many who might look at my college career as a failure. I was on track to possibly study in Europe for a year or two, go to an excellent graduate school, receive my PhD and land a decent professorship. Or so I was told. However, there was a time with my GPA received some blemishes and suddenly I graduated with no thought of Graduate School.
In my first three years of college I saw, as a Resident Assistant, countless students throw away or significantly hinder their academic progress for stupid reasons: alcohol, drugs, hot girls, pure laziness, etc... These students were distracted by something in their life and their grades slipped. It would be easy to look at my college career and say that something similar happened. Kristen always does when she looks at my transcript.
"The semester before we got together, you were taking 20 hours and got straight A's."
Well, it's true. Kristen entered my life. However, unlike my residents who engaged in casual dating, casual drinking, and casual sloth, I sacrificed my academics for something worthwhile. I was in pursuit of a lady who I thought was going to be the woman I married. The woman with whom I would raise children. The woman with whom I would grow old. I thought she was this woman, and I wanted to know for sure. Yes, that was a distraction, but a worthwhile distraction. No, I'm not going to graduate school, but I will be a father, raising and taking care of my family.
My advice to those in college: swear off casual distractions, but when real, worthwhile distractions come your way, go after her. I think that true wisdom is knowing when to pick up the books and when to put them down. I thank God everyday that somehow I knew when to put them down and pursue greater things, a great woman.
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Recipe
This is a not so hot version of the Cajun classic. WARNING: I am not Cajun. I've been to Louisiana twice, but never to the Cajun parts. I do not make any claims on the authenticity of this dish. It's just a nice, hearty, one pot meal we have grown to love this winter.
JAMBALAYA
2 t. olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
10 oz.+ of sausage (cajun or kielbasa), sliced
1/2 of an onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. onion powder
t each of salt and pepper
2 c. uncooked rice
4 c. chicken broth (one carton*)
2 t. worchestershire
1 t. hot pepper sauce (more or less, depending on your preference)
Start all the cubing/slicing/dicing. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Saute chicken and sausage until light brown (about 5 minutes). Stir in onion, pepper, celery, carrots and garlic. Season with cayenne, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cook 5 more minutes. Add rice and stir in broth, crank it up and bring it to a boil. Cover and simmer at least 20 minutes, until the rice is tender. Stir in worchestershire and hot pepper sauce**.
Serves 4+.
* Swanson's 100% fat free "Natural Goodness" broth is highly recommended!
** we often throw in precooked shrimp at the end, especially the second day we eat it.
JAMBALAYA
2 t. olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
10 oz.+ of sausage (cajun or kielbasa), sliced
1/2 of an onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. onion powder
t each of salt and pepper
2 c. uncooked rice
4 c. chicken broth (one carton*)
2 t. worchestershire
1 t. hot pepper sauce (more or less, depending on your preference)
Start all the cubing/slicing/dicing. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Saute chicken and sausage until light brown (about 5 minutes). Stir in onion, pepper, celery, carrots and garlic. Season with cayenne, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cook 5 more minutes. Add rice and stir in broth, crank it up and bring it to a boil. Cover and simmer at least 20 minutes, until the rice is tender. Stir in worchestershire and hot pepper sauce**.
Serves 4+.
* Swanson's 100% fat free "Natural Goodness" broth is highly recommended!
** we often throw in precooked shrimp at the end, especially the second day we eat it.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Sabbath Reflection
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
becomes chorus
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
becomes chorus
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Odds and Ends
+ We've finished the first season of 24 on DVD and are slowly progressing through the second. We're pretty much in the junkie stage.
+ We bought a crib. We had to drive all the way up to wacky Waco to get it.
+ Everyone at work is on the South Beach diet. I'm trying out the beached whale diet, as I still weigh several pounds less than I did before I became pregnant.
+ We bought a crib. We had to drive all the way up to wacky Waco to get it.
+ Everyone at work is on the South Beach diet. I'm trying out the beached whale diet, as I still weigh several pounds less than I did before I became pregnant.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Pregnancy Meets School
My students have been pretty funny about my pregnancy. About two of thirteen can pray tactfully for the baby and I, usually it's just "Help the Stewart baby not to die in Mrs. Stewart's stomach." I guess that gets the point across! They lobby for me to name the child in their honor, which makes me laugh. I had the class telling the new students the ins and outs of our class (hand signals, expectations, discipline, et. al.) and one of my students raised her hand and said, "If you're wondering, our teacher isn't fat, she's having a baby." Thanks, dear!
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Back to the Grind
Christmas break is over. I'm back to teaching, with two new students to assimilate. At home, Mike and I are spending lots of time engrossed in the first season of 24 and perfecting a family sweet tea recipe.
I'm really looking forward to our church's Epiphany Feast and Service tonight.
I'm really looking forward to our church's Epiphany Feast and Service tonight.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Cold, Hard Reality
One of the blessings and curses of my job is that I teach at a school that's considered a part of the mercy ministries of our church. Its a blessing to know that a good Christian education is offered free to those who want it. Its a curse to have to deal with the reality that people don't want it as much as we want it for them. A lot of people don't appreciate what they are given, make rash choices and let their children suffer. In August, three children were on my class roster who came from the afterschool program our church runs. One never showed, one left within the week, and apparently, the third isn't returning after the holiday break. All of these children are identified as ESL, and therefore, stand little chance of making it through the public education machine. (They are completely tracked out here until high school, then are shoved into mainstream high schools where they are years behind their peers, making it difficult for them to earn a high school diploma, let alone go to college.)
It's hard to know that there's not much I can do, and that the biggest loss is felt by those who can't make the decision for themselves. Please pray for these students, and their families.
It's hard to know that there's not much I can do, and that the biggest loss is felt by those who can't make the decision for themselves. Please pray for these students, and their families.
Saturday, January 03, 2004
Post-Liberal Theology
Can someone explain this to me? I've heard it associated with the "Yale School" (through Lindbeck, I suppose), but don't know much about it. Googling usually turns up with conservative responses to it.
Friday, January 02, 2004
My Confession
I've been reading NT Wright's What Saint Paul Really Said lately, and I have to confess: I enjoy it. I haven't finished, nor have I read any critiques of it. I want to read more of what he has written. However, the reason I enjoy Wright and want to read more of what he has written has nothing to do with conservative, theological circles.
For the past three years, I have been steeped in NT academia. I have had the benefit of tremendous professors here at UT, but it has been challenging. What I have heard from the lecturn and the pulpit were always different, and the two nearly spoke different languages. I imagine that it would be like growing up bilingual. You know how to operate in two diverse spheres, but not how to relate or build bridges between the two. That is why I'm pessimistic about the Church doing evangelism or making a different in academic theological circles. The conservative, orthodox church doesn't discuss or operate at a level where the rest of the world is. It could drop off the face of the earth, and it wouldn't register a bit.
However, NT Wright has been refreshing because he is a churchman. He is a scholar who knows that language, yet he wants to use it for the good of the Church and the glory of Christ. I read most scholars and they could give a rip about how it effects me spiritually or whether I curse God and die -- some, I imagine, would prefer I take this latter route (not the Professors at UT, who are really great). Wright however is concerned about how this effects the Church and the positive influence it would make in understanding what St. Paul really said.
That is why I like him. We need more people like him. Let the excommunication hearings commence.
For the past three years, I have been steeped in NT academia. I have had the benefit of tremendous professors here at UT, but it has been challenging. What I have heard from the lecturn and the pulpit were always different, and the two nearly spoke different languages. I imagine that it would be like growing up bilingual. You know how to operate in two diverse spheres, but not how to relate or build bridges between the two. That is why I'm pessimistic about the Church doing evangelism or making a different in academic theological circles. The conservative, orthodox church doesn't discuss or operate at a level where the rest of the world is. It could drop off the face of the earth, and it wouldn't register a bit.
However, NT Wright has been refreshing because he is a churchman. He is a scholar who knows that language, yet he wants to use it for the good of the Church and the glory of Christ. I read most scholars and they could give a rip about how it effects me spiritually or whether I curse God and die -- some, I imagine, would prefer I take this latter route (not the Professors at UT, who are really great). Wright however is concerned about how this effects the Church and the positive influence it would make in understanding what St. Paul really said.
That is why I like him. We need more people like him. Let the excommunication hearings commence.
Thursday, January 01, 2004
The Joy of IKEA two in a continuing series
We didn't make it to midnight to ring in the New Year. It would have been anti-climactic without a T.V. anyway (no ball drop). We collapsed after Mike finished putting together our new dresser. Yesterday, we spontaneously drove the two and a half hours to Houston so we could go to Ikea. We haven't had a dresser since we've been married, and we were tired of keeping our dresser clothes in boxes on the walk-in closet floor. Going to Ikea is so much fun, its like Disney World for adults. I plotted our next eight furniture purchases. I think I enjoy Ikea more than Mike, since I never have to put anything together.