Book # 18: Strong Women, Soft Hearts

Book: Strong Women, Soft Hearts
Author: Paula Rinehart
Acquired: Gift from Kristen Macurda
Favorite Quote so far: " It is a bit of a mystery how we lose the early glow we have when the wonder of the gospel first caputres us. How we slowly drift from the domain of the heart to a focus on efficiency and performances- as though this whole thing was mostly about doing and duty. The passion is replaced with just showing up. "

Books #12-16: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I have gotten a little off track. The original 42 books idea was to read through books in my own library that I haven't yet finished. Alas, I stumbled upon a fun adolescent adventure series in our school library and after reading the first book, I couldn't resist reading the rest.

If you like Harry Potter, you will probably like this series as well! Although the reading level, character and plot development, and style could never match the JK Rowling's carefully crafted tales, it is still a great read!

Get more info on Percy Jackson and the Olympians here. Happy Reading!

Charlotte here we come!

-- Post From My iPhone

A day in Barça

-- Post From My iPhone

Las Ramblas

We took a night walk down Las Ramblas, the most famous street in Spain!





-- Post From My iPhone

On the way to Barcelona

-- Post From My iPhone

L'Oceanogràfic

We had a wonderful time at the aquarium today! The dolphin show was our favorite.... And the hamburgers were amazing! I think that we were all longing for a taste of home :D








-- Post From My iPhone

In Valencia

-- Post From My iPhone

La Alhambra

On Wednesday we visited the Alhambra palace, the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain!








-- Post From My iPhone

Morocco

Our trip to morocco was today! The ferry ride on the way three was a little rough, but worth it! We took a walking tour through thrvold medina where we saw an open air market with multicolored chickens, beans, spices, and meat. We haggled over prices for carpets and made a visit to a local pharmacy that had herbal remedies for almost everything...including baldness and acne!
















ost From My iPhone

Group Photo!

-- Post From My iPhone

More Seville sights!

The Cathedral in Seville! The third largest cathedral in the world!



The Royal Garden at the Alcazar palace!


-- Post From My iPhone

Plaza de Toros

We visited Seville's famous bullring today. Wish we could have seen an actual bullfight!


-- Post From My iPhone

Good Morning from Seville!

-- Post From My iPhone

Flamenco

We to a flamenco show last night! Kelsey and Alli even got to go on stage and learn some flamenco moves!!


-- Post From My iPhone

La Mezquita

I am so proud of our kids today :) we are traveling with two groups from California. One is a group of 6 girls and one guy from Morgan Hill, California, just south of San Francisco. The other is group of deaf students.

Right we are in the bus on our way to Cordoba to visit the largest mosque in Europe,, La Mezquita, and several of the girls are learning sign language and speaking with the deaf students! Alli Rybak, Kelsey, Madalyn, and Karson are going to come back knowing so many signs!

It is a joy to see them interact with and love these students!



In the Mezquita with new friends!

-- Post From My iPhone

Metro ride

We rode on Madrid's metro. For several students this was their first time!


-- Post From My iPhone

Museo del Prado

Yesterday we did a whirlwind tour of the Museo del Prado, considered one of the three most important museums in the world (the louvre in France is another). We saw painting by Rubens, Velazquez, Goya, Rembrandt, Titian. Our favorite: Las Meninas by Velazquez!


-- Post From My iPhone

Hanging out at the Royal Palace

-- Post From My iPhone

Starbucks

A little taste of home :D


-- Post From My iPhone

Ready for a new day!

Waiting in the lobby of our hotel. City tour this morning!



-- Post From My iPhone

First day complete

Everyone us in bed after a long first day! Dinner was yummy, pasta, potatoes and ham... Ice cream for dessert.

We did a lot of walking this evening through downtown Madrid. There were thousands of people out enjoying the Semana Santa (Holy Week) activities. We saw living statues, part of a holy week procession, a live jazz band. Excited for tomorrow!




-- Post From My iPhone

First day in Spain

We made it!!

Our flight arrived early the Spanish time of 6:30am (12:30am at home)! We were exhausted, but excited!

This morning we dropped off our bags at Hotel Mediodia right in the center of Madrid, near the Atocha train station. Then we enjoyed a yummy breakfast of porras(think long, skinny Spanish donuts, but less sugary) and coffee at a little cafe next to the hotel.

After that we went with our guide Matthew for a walking tour of the beautiful Buen Retio park. Everyone was out running, riding bikes, and enjoying the beautiful day. Most people were off work for Good Friday!

A small group of us went to the Reina Sofia museum (right next door to the hotel) to see the famous Pablo Picasso painting Guernica, which depicts the Nazi Bombing of a small Spanish town in 1937.

Tonight, orientation and dinner at the oldest restaurant in Madrid!


-- Post From My iPhone

At the CLT airport

We are on our way!!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Spain 2010

In just under 12 hours we (14 SLCA students and 4 adults) will be leaving for a whirlwind tour of Spain. Our cities include: Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Tetouan (Morroco), Seville, Valencia, and Barcelona. ¡Vámanos!

Book # 12 The Lightening Thief

Book: The Lightening Thief
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Author: Rick Riordan
Acquired: SLCA Bookfair

So, I should be packing my bags right now, but as usual there is some mental block that makes packing a suitcase an extremely painful and long process. There is something in me that doesn't want to commit to the clothes that I have laid out until the last possible moment. What if I change my mind?

In honor of my procrastinating, I have decided to write a blog.

Book #12 is underway. I was inspired to choose it by reading book #8, Edith Hamilton's Greek Mythology (which I am still working on). And, seeing that there are now two Greek Mythology movies out right now, it seemed appropriate. See Lightening Thief trailer here and Clash of the Titans here (don't think I will see this one....looks really violent)

Cooper River

This weekend was the Cooper River Bridge Run. It was a fun weekend in Charleston with one of my students and her mom and grandma. YAY :D

Two minute PR. Still not as fast I want to be, but at least it was faster than the last one!

Mexico vs. Iceland

Mexico played a friendly match against Iceland last night here in Charlotte at the Bank of America stadium. So fun! I don't know if I have ever seen so much green or heard so many enthusiastic fans. One guy even took it a little too far (read about it here).

Lindsay and Trish


Josh and the luchador mask

The field and the fans.

;

Enthusiastic Fans

That Your Faith Might Grow..

As you know, I teach at SouthLake Christian Academy. Two weeks ago we had our yearly Mission's Week dedicated to raising awareness about and praying for Missions. We have chapel every day with special speakers and worship and skits done by our Student Missions Fellowship. We also pick a project to raise money for.

This year was a different year. The Student Missions Fellowship prayed before each chapel. We simplified a lot of things and decided not to have any prizes or competitions between classes to raise money. Instead, we told our teachers and students that we wanted to trust God to move on the hearts of our students to give even though they wouldn't receive a prize for their class giving the most money. We wanted them to give from their hearts, knowing their treasure is in heaven.

Our project this year was to raise 12,000$ for Double Harvest, a ministry in Haiti started by one of the families from our school (http://doubleharvest.org/index.html). On Thursday morning we had only raised 6,000$. I think all of us felt a little nervous. We didn't want the kids to be discouraged and we didn't want to guilt them into giving. We wanted it to be God's work in them.

Friday morning the Student Missions Fellowship students were collecting the final money. As they stopped by my room they said, "Miss Jackson, our buckets are so heavy. This is exciting!" I told them to come in so we could pray together. We prayed that God would not only meet the goal, but more, so that HE would be glorified and the students would know that God was the one who did the work!

That morning when they announced the totals, it was OVER 12,000$!! The kids all cheered! By the next Monday there was almost 16,000$. This is the most money that the school has ever raised for a missions project. There were no gimmicks or prizes, we just prayed!

God was truly glorified, and later that day two students gave their hearts to Christ with two different teachers. One of the conversations began specifically because of what God had done regarding the money!

It is true, God delights for us to ask Him and trust Him because when He answers, He is glorified!

John 14:13-14
¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Book # 3: Quote

"Unforgiveness is the poison we drink hoping the other person will die."

My Teacher is a Pirate

Last Friday I was listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack while grading lots of papers (some good and some...mmmm.....not so good). The following poem resulted:

My Teacher is a Pirate
by Trish Jackson


My teacher is a pirate.
I know it's hard to tell.
Her red pen is a sharp, sharp sword,
Her car flies a dark, dark sail.

They say she went to pirate school
to learn the art of terror.
"Fail them all, fail them all,"
Squawks her evil parrot.

She pillages our papers
until there's nothing left.
Her sword pen slashing, cutting,
her pirate mark- a giant X.

Test day is the day of doom,
my mind comes to a blank.
I dare not try to face her sword,
I'd rather walk the plank!

Book # 8: Pan

Did you know that the word panic comes from the lesser Greek god Pan?

Pan was the son of Hermes (Mercury). Part human form, part goat. He was often thought to cause mischief and mysterious sounds in the forest causing travelers to tremble (panic) as they passed through.

Book # 8: Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Book: Mythology
Author: Edith Hamilton

So, this is where the inner nerd makes its appearance. When I was in elementary school I used to check out books on greek mythology, just for fun. When I saw this book for three dollars in a used book store a few years ago, it was impossible to leave it on the shelf.

The book includes Greek, Roman, and Norse Mythology. Before you laugh, it is a well known fact that CS Lewis was very fond of mythology (Have you read Til We Have Faces?). I also just verified this fact on wikipedia :)

Happy Reading!

Book # 7: I Capture the Castle

Book: I Capture the Castle
Author: Dodie Smith
Acquired: A Christmas present from my sweet Grandmother :)

I was hoping for a quick read so that I could feel like I was really moving along on this whole 42 book thing....I may have chosen the wrong book.

I did learn an interesting phrase, though. Can someone, without looking it up, explain what an "Auto da fe" is? A hint: Think Spanish Inquisition.

Book # 6: A little behind schedule...

Soooo.....that whole 42 book thing....it is still happening, but just at a slightly slower rate than I had anticipated. I got stuck in Richard Pratt's book Designed for Dignity. Some books just cannot be read in a hurry. They must simmer. Slow cooker vs. fast food.

The next book will probably be more of the fast food variety, just to feel better about my overall progress.

Here is a question from Mr. Pratt: WHY do you do what you do? What is your purpose?

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18 KJV

SLCA Peru Teacher Trip 2009

Book # 6: Designed for Dignity

Book: Designed for Dignity- What God has made it possible for you to be
Author: Richard Pratt, Jr.
Acquired: Pilfered from Josh Stockment's library while helping him organize his books....he had like three copies. Don't feel bad for him :)

ATM: Arm Twisting Machine

Dear Wachovia ATM creators,

We would like to make you aware that not all of your clients drive SUVs. The height of your ATMs have required us to use awkward card retrieval techniques which result in back pain, neck injury, fingernail breakage, and bad emotions. If this issue is not resolved at once, we may have to file a lawsuit for vehicle discrimination.

Thank you for your time,
Compact Car Drivers of America

Book # 5: Is That Really You, God?

Book: Is That Really You, God?
Author: Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM
Acquired: Bought at an ASCI teacher's conference, recommended by my friend Laura Bookout Matias who is a missionary with her husband Felipe to children in the favelas of Recife, Brazil.

Book # 4: Crazy Love.Relief

Whew! Just when I was feeling the lowest of the low, he finally uttered the words I was waiting for... I was nervous he wouldn't say them...just command me to will to love Jesus more so I feel guilty that I can't.

"The answer lies in letting HIM change you. Remmeber His counsel to the lukewarm church in Laodicea? 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If a anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me' (Revelation 3:20). His counsel wasn't to 'try harder,' but rather to LET HIM IN." Crazy Love, 103.

"The fact is, I need God to help me love God." Crazy Love, 104.

Friends, we cannot do this alone. We cannot make ourselves love God. We can't psyche ourselves up, we can't sing enough songs, we can't do enough things to change out own hearts. IT IS GOD who changes hearts. His grace comes in and changes us to the core.'

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

I love this prayer at the end of chapter 6:

" Jesus, I need to give myself up. I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own. I can't do it, and I need You. I need You deeply and desperately. I believe you are orth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next. I want you. And whne I don't, I want to want You. Be all in me. Take all of me. Have Your way with me." Crazy Love, 111.

Book # 4: Crazy Love.First Impressions

Book #4: Crazy Love
Author: Francis Chan
Acquired: My friend Brenda, who is working at PACA, a Christian School in Brazil sent it to me :) 'brigada, Brenda!

I have read about 100 pages of Crazy Love. Here are some first impressions.

Like: Francis Chan is calling the church to a deeper walk with Christ.

Don't like: The way he does this. The book, instead of inspiring me to a grace walk with Christ, has left me feeling guilty and fearful and insecure in my relationship with the Lord (vs. another book I read recently about Adoption in Christ that moves me to deeper relationship with Christ and to action because of the way grace is presented)

. This morning I spent a few minutes talking with my friend Jessica Dean about the way the book uses guilt (different from conviction), rather than grace, to motivate its readers, and she suggested look at some reviews of the book to see if anyone else was saying something similar.

Sometimes I have a hard time putting into words what I am thinking , but here is what some others have said and they seem to capture what I want to say (these are from Amazon.com book reviews):

1. "My favorite explanation of the... concept of "Law and Gospel" is "Disturbing the Comfortable and Comforting the Disturbed"... Francis succeeds in disturbing the comfortable, but not in comforting the disturbed and giving the empowerment to do that which God has set before us. To me, that means that the job is only half-done."

2. "While I am sure that many "older" Christians might be able take this book as a genuine challenge to live their faith more boldly, I find very little in the way of encouragement in this book. I think that this book is downright dangerous to newer Christians. I at least thought I had been growing in my faith over the last several months, but this book put a nice big question mark over all of that. Frankly, by the time I was finished reading this book, I didn't feel in any way inspired to be a better Christian... I felt like I had been torn into little pieces, I felt destroyed."

3. "Well I was expecting this book to be all about God's love for us, But I found the book to be more about my love for God."

4. "Yet, noticeably lacking from this treatment of Christianity is Jesus - at least Jesus presented as a Redeemer and Savior. Little time is spent on the "crazy love" that God has shown us in the cross, and that....well....it's just crazy."

Note: I am not finished reading the book. I know there are also some really good things about this book (I will post those later). But, until then, does anyone else have thoughts on the book?

PS: This is not meant to be a place of argument, I am just looking for other feedback because of the above mentioned thoughts.