leslie follmar ~ sweet redemption

"Here is Love" by Leslie

I recorded "Here is Love" while practicing for Sunday Morning Worship.
To download, right click "Save As" or "Save Link As"

Here Is Love

Texas Monthly, the State Board of Education & taking it personal

I was so excited to get my October edition of Texas Monthly, as I am every month. I'm so glad I subscribed to it, especially since it's only $12 a month. Now, the magazine can be a little on the liberal side at times, but you learn to filter. Overall, it's a great magazine.
However, in the October edition I read an article on the State Board of Education, which chooses our states curriculum guidelines (and determines what I teach). But the article isn't about the process or even the under-qualification of the members, it's about...well, why don't you read it for yourself.

 

Maybe you came to the same conclusion I did about it, or maybe you really liked it, or maybe you could care less. The article left a bad taste in my mouth and got me all riled up :-) So, I decided to relay my thoughts to Texas Monthly. Here they are:

I was very intrigued when I saw the article on the State Board of Education, seeing that I'm a sixth grade science department chair in Houston. I thought staging the article as a TAKS test was very clever. Probably every teacher, administrator & school district has issues with
the TEKS. However, I did not appreciate some of these "questions". It seems as though the author has something against conservatives who believe in Intelligent Design, the virgin birth, and homeschooling their children. I'll tell you what, I'm not dead set on sending my (future) children to a public school. If everyone on the board did send their kids to public school, they might not appreciate the perspectives of alternatives or competition.

Also, the shots made against Intelligent Design are just low. In question 11, the answer is "evolution is both a fact and a theory." I know Ms. Vine is quoting the NAS, but please explain to me how something can be a theory and a fact. The textbook that I teach out of would have a hard time reconciling those two things as being equal. And, yes, I do think that all of the things mentioned in question 12 are theories that have strengths and weaknesses. I think there are things we will never be able to explain.

As for the basis of the article, sure, many people do not understand how the curriculum standards are set, and I have my own qualms with the Board. But, this article makes me feel as a teacher, that what I do isn't valued.  And, as a conservative, I feel personally attacked form this article trying to make a mockery out of people with similar beliefs. I'm sure everyone, liberal or conservative, minority or majority, could have been painted in the same light, but here it was done on the basis of belief and not on the lack of qualification (which is much more substantial).

I thought about canceling my subscription over this article, but decided against it because of the great articles I do get to read, like the one on the State School for the Blind (great article!)

Rush Limbaugh: How long does Obama keep Biden on the ticket?

I watched this video during the RNC on what Rush Limbaugh thinks about the Obama-Biden ticket (he starts talking about it about 5/8's of the way through :-)


Then I saw this article today on FoxNews.com about Biden's tumor rumor.

our Ike evacuee camp

I posted the following on CNN.com's iReport:

Hurricane Ike's been great for me, my friends, and their friends! We've all been hanging out/spending the night at a friend's huge house 2 miles west of downtown Houston. Most of us don't have any power, but had minimal damage to our homes.
It's been great to get out for a walk, enjoy the amazing weather and talk to the neighbors! Even though horrible things have happened as a result of this storm, there are many reasons to be thankful and positive.
Houston is resiliant and it's people are amazing! Some of us tried to volunteer at a POD site and we were turned away because they have more than enough volunteers for the week...amazing!
I waited in line for about 20 minutes for gas, and made sure to thank the cop who was directing traffic. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits as we were all thankful to get gas.
Since I don't have to go back to school (I'm a teacher) for the rest of the week, I've been putting my free time to use by grading paper.
Thank you to the CNN reporters. Please don't forget us down here!

and these are some of the responses I got:
"I'm so happy to read your comments.It helps me to know my family in the Houston area is alright...I knew my sister is w/ her daughter due to no power but hadn't heard much else...now I realize they are fine,too,if you are!Thanks&God bless you for the uplifting article...keep on thinking positively&enjoying your time off.May all of us remember good things! "

"Luv your POSITIVE perspective! Lots of blessings to you, your friends and family! The friend with the "huge house" who graciously let you all in, will definitely receive tremendous blessings for making the home available. I'm sure the blessings are already flowing back"

"We have been blessed! All BS aside FEMA is not here. Everything you see donated so far is from local organizations & area. Be Blessed!"

"Thank God. Somebody who's not complaining that the government has let them down! I'm grateful you're okay, glad you have a sense of perspective and a desire to help. Good for you. Stay safe, and enjoy your "vacation" from school!"

aftermath

This picture was on CNN.com and is from the freeway right where I exit for my house. I have no idea what my house is like, if it has power (almost no one has power in Houston), if it has water in it, if there's a tree in it...no clue.
I have since left Houston after riding out the storm, which I thought would be a lot more scary than it was. There's no school until Thursday at the earliest. It's hard not being in Houston knowing what's going on, but I'd rather be around TV and the internet so I can get updates on the news than sitting in a dark house with no power eating PB&J for 2 weeks.

Please pray that God's glory is evident through this! I am certain that Houstonians will rise to the occasion and shine during this time.

If you'd like to keep updated or get more info into what's going on in Houston, most of the local new stations have live streaming news coverage.  KTRK-13 (ABC)   KHOU-11 (CBS)   KPRC-2 (NBC)

hurricane ike

 

Yes, I live in Houston and yes, I am going to "hunker" down and wait it out. The storm's headed straight for Houston and I'm trying to remind myself that if all of my things are destroyed that my hope is in Christ and not in what I own.
If you're watching the news, most of Galveston Island (about 30 miles south of where I live) is mostly under water. The water has come up over the top of the 15 foot seawall and the storm hasn't even hit the shore yet.
I'm not really scared, though :-) 

If you want to keep updated, KHOU, Houston's CBS station has their newscast streaming online at KHOU.com
Here are a couple of funny videos I found taken today.
 

freaked out

Am I the only one freaked out by this? I think this "experiment" is a complete waste of time and money! And I'm wondering why these scientists are even being allowed to go through with this, when they don't even know what could happen.

Yes, I know my hope is in Christ, and I need to trust Him, but it still freaks me out, and I think they ought to think of how people might react to this.

Some of my friends have offered a few comments via Facebook:

"I have another view on the Earth's demise (see the Revelation of John for more details). I'm looking forward to hearing what they discover!" ~Philip

"That is what science has become in many ways now. When "scientists" get results that do not match up with their world views they assume that there was a mistake, and go on until they get the results they are looking for." ~Byron

"These guys crack me up. Is it really science when you set up an experiment to give you the results you wanted to begin with?" ~Joey