By default of readership, I have been tagged by Brother Maynard. 

For those of you who don’t know about this meme — you are to grab the closest book, turn to page 123, find the fifth sentence, and share the next three sentences. Then tag five people to do the same. 

My closest book is Tim Keel’s Intuitive Leadership.  Page 123, paragraph three: 

But like much in postmodernity, it is not as if we are simply discovering something new; we are also in the process of recovering what has always been present in, around, and among us, yet marginalized, like so many other aspects of life in modernity. It is probably not surprising to learn that the context of the world in which we live today is a world that is increasingly and aggressively addressing and engaging intuitive, imaginative, and spiritual ways of being — and not just as a novelty. How human beings exist and engage with the visible and invisible world around them is a struggle that is unfolding all around us.  

I am tagging five of my favorite bloggers that have not yet posted on the meme:

• Jamie at A Living Alternative
• Milton at don’t eat alone
• Dave at Reclaiming the Mission
• Christine at Godspace
• David at nakedpastor

I made the decision to start blogging in 2008 and got everything up in time to begin on January 1st, but I didn’t think I would have this much trouble posting on a regular basis.

I am at seminary part-time and have been looking for work since I graduated from MNU, and had to also leave my assessment gig.  Last week, after jumping through all the flaming hoops of paperwork, TB tests, and background checks I was finally given the greenlight to begin substitute teaching.  I worked three days last week, but have only had one gig this week.  Two days have been lost to church meetings, and yesterday I never got a call.

My first assignments have been four different sixth grade classes in three different schools.  So far so good.  Being an ogre, I am able to intimidate them with my size while at the same time building rapport by making the lessons fun and building relationships with them.  I think my greatest tool is the desire to get to know them.  They have been doing a study on Greek mythology, gods & goddesses, the Olympics, Athens, Troy, and Sparta.  Both Troy and 300 were great tools for teaching, as were my drawing skills.  When we began to talk about Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey I drew him as Homer Simpson in a toga with an olive branch behind the ear.  My two years of biblical Greek also came in handy when we talked about aristos, demos, and kratos — and how they come together to become aristocracy and democracy.  

So far every teacher has wanted my ID number, which is a good sign that they will request me in the future.Friday will be my first day back to high school.  I am a bit worried, because I can remember myself as a student.  When we heard that a class had a sub there were only two things to figure out: how can we break them, and how can we do is fast?  Of course, the younger you are (in years and at heart) the better.

All of that rambling is to say that I am having fun, but that it has also put a damper on my reading, writing, and other joys of life.

I have many things I want to blog about including the two books that I am reading – Intuitive Leadership by Tim Keel, and The Great Giveaway by Dave Fitch.  I hope to blog through these as I go, but that means that I either need to get started or stop reading!  

I am going through Tim’s book first, so that I can chew on it a bit before my semester starts.  I am looking forward to having Tim as my prof in a class he will be teaching entitled Preaching in a Postmodern Context.

Thank you to all of you who have been reading so far, and please be patient as I find my pace in the blogosphere.