Quantcast

Browse by Tags

All Tags » personal stories   (RSS)

I hope he stays a lunatic for life

Micah tells Joel to look up at the moon. The elder is taking a lesson from the younger, a quick reminder that the moon still matters. "It was hiding behind the clouds, but now it's back," Micah explains. "It's a quarter-moon," Joel adds. "A quarter is Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

2010 02 20

John Spencer

6 Comments

faith of a child

My wife sent this to me a few minutes ago (please don't try to look too far into it and criticize his theology): During lunchtime today I gave Brenna a kiss. Joel looks at me and asks, “Mom, do you know who gets the most kisses?” “Brenna?” I answer. “No, Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

,

2010 01 8

John Spencer

8 Comments

the achievement gap

It's my first year of teaching and I have the task of analyzing ethnic demographic data in relation to achievement scores. Basically, it's stereotyping with good intentions (if one considers raising test scores to be good intentions. I'm not so sure) Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

,

2009 10 10

John Spencer

9 Comments

my dad's response

I thought my dad wouldn't read this blog. It turns out he's more tech-saavy than I had assumed. He sent me this response on Facebook. I cried. This is Dad writing this response, not Mom. I may even get one of these fancy blog sites myself and communicate Read More...
Filed under:

,

2009 09 23

John Spencer

4 Comments

blowing in the wind

how many bubbles must a child fill out before he sees there’s no choice? yes and how many walls will be painted white before they silence our voice? an extra lined I added to a classic when I drove past the freshly painted white space that used to house Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 08 22

John Spencer

4 Comments

on faith and sex and God and staff lounge conversations

The staff lounge isn't exactly a bastion of theological inquiry. We mostly talk about our classes, occasionally our families and often Fantasy Football. About a year ago a side conversation broke out in the midst of a discussion about The Office. "Where Read More...
Filed under:

2009 08 21

John Spencer

2 Comments

grace and gardening and smashing oranges with metal bats

My sons and I just made home-made spaghetti sauce. The carrots were from one of our friends, the tomatoes from another. We had the thyme, oregano, basil and sage in our front yard. We added squash and onion from a garden as well. When we were done, Joel Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 06 10

John Spencer

4 Comments

what David's teaching me about teaching

Our church has been doing a series on the life of David. Initially, the story made me feel weak and tired. It's so epic and adventurous and my life is so ordinary and plain. It's not that I dislike my life. I don't buy into the Thereau's notion that most Read More...
Filed under:

,

2009 06 7

John Spencer

3 Comments

why I hate swimming

I don't mind the heat. I like to run when it's ninety. I enjoy doing yard work when it's triple digits. I love the way, in Arizona, the sweat dries off of me before it's hit my shirt. I love how relaxed I feel when it's hot out. For that reason, I have Read More...
Filed under:

,

2009 06 7

John Spencer

5 Comments

innocence - another Joel dialogue

Joel pulls me aside with a serious demeanor. "Daddy, this is a toy gun. We can shoot it, but we never shoot a real gun, okay?" "Good point, Joel," I respond. "Why do people have real guns?" he asks. "To protect their home. They have a gun just in case Read More...
Filed under:

,

2009 06 3

John Spencer

4 Comments

I can't believe this matters

Apparently the changing one's hairstyle can be the most disruptive element to student learning. For two days now I have had no gel in my hair. It has garnered way too much attention and I'm already beginning to feel a little self-conscious. Who knew the Read More...
Filed under:

2009 05 5

John Spencer

9 Comments

the trouble with defining love

"I don't eat meat," a boys explains self-righteously. "Is it because of the cruel way they are treated?" I ask, waiting for a speech about crowded crates. "No, I just can't justify killing anything that is capable of love." "Why do you feel that way?" Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 04 30

John Spencer

3 Comments

short conversation

I'm touring ASU with a group of fifteen students. They have me with three of the high-level honors students, four with "potential" and eight of the trouble-makers. Our group is all-boys. In theory, this should have meant they were wild, but without the Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

2009 04 21

John Spencer

4 Comments

a difficult reminder

Today I was lamenting the lack of tamles this year as the students gathered outside my classroom. "Yeah, we're not having tamales this year. Our electricity was turned off last week." "Mine, too. My dad works construction and there's no work right now. Read More...
Filed under:

2008 12 19

John Spencer

4 Comments

why blog?

I talked to a guy one time who had just finished seminary. I asked him why he chose that path. I expected a cliche answer about "God leading" but instead he explained, "I think on some level, I wanted an acquaintance with power. I wanted to feel that Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2008 12 17

John Spencer

19 Comments

More Posts Next page »