EDUC 341: PRABE #5

The next part of Maxwell's "Developing the Leader Within You" looked more specifically at what makes a good leader. Maxwell separates leadership into 5 different 'levels,' which are: Position, Permission, Production, People Development, and Personhood. So leadership begins as a position, with a given title for a certain job and it eventually, if developed properly, evolves into who you are as a person. You are known for your leadership abilities and attributes. In my mind, these are the Ghandis, Mother Theresas, Martin Luther Kings, and Billy Grahams. People who really make a difference in the world and use their lives to BE a leader are those who reach that highest level. 

As a teacher, my days as a leader are still ahead of me, but I know that so many opportunities will come. I hope that I successfully lead our future generations in the right direction so they can be successful in their own lives.

EDUC 341: PRABE #4

I have been reading John C. Maxwell's, "Developing the Leader Within You."  The first part of the book really deals with the definition of leadership and the differences between leadership and management. The author makes several great points with stressing that being a manager doesn't necessarily make an individual a leader. In a way, I disagree with this. To me, if you are a manager of something, you are automatically a leader because a manager is a leadership position. However, I think Maxwell's point comes down to whether you are a good leader or a bad leader. And yes, I believe both types of leaders exist. I appreciate this book so far because I have really been able to relate it to my own place of employment and recognize various characteristics in my coworkers, managers, and directors.

EDUC 341: PRABE #3

I spent several of my lunch hours reading, this week. Not only did my mind need the break from work-related things, but my soul needed the reminder of grace!

The book I have been reading is, "In the Grip of Grace," by Max Lucado. One part that I  really had to keep reading over and over was a section that discussed grace being sufficient. What is my response when I have asked and asked and asked for something, but God says, "No, Sarah."? This made me think about whether or not I am truly content with what I have. The book went into detail about "the thorn" in Paul's life and how Paul responded to that. Another portion that really hit me hard was regarding our attitudes toward anxiety. I sure have an "f" in the books for that test! :-)

As I'm becoming more involved in my kids' activities and taking on more tasks at work, my schedule is becoming EXTREMELY loaded. Maybe OVERloaded. As a result, my mind is more 'cluttered' and it takes more effort on my part to actually sit and read for a solid hour. Sometimes, I have more difficulty paying attention to the meaning of what I'm reading rather than just the words on the page. These PRABE exercises have really made me focus on what I'm doing rather than just going through the motions.

Until next week,
Sarah

EDUC 341: PRABE #2

This week, I have been spending my reading time with a great book by Max Lucado, Live to Make A Difference. This book is basically about truly living and making your life worthwhile in a world that is full of brokenness, poverty, hunger, crime, and other types of difficulty. The thing I appreciate about this book is that every time I finish reading a portion of the book, I feel moved to do something, whether it be building a new relationship with a meaningful purpose or simply sharing a meal with someone who is hungry. What I did NOT like about this week's reading time is that it seemed to come in more frequent, smaller chunks of time. I do MUCH better when I can have my 90 minutes of pleasure reading in one block of time; when it short and brief, I feel like I can't get 'into it' as much as I can when I have a longer period of time to really sit back and READ. 

EDUC 341: PRABE #1

I am participating in a reading program at my church, so I am taking advantage of my 90 minutes of pleasure reading to get through a set of missionary books. The first book I am reading is Gina Pottenger's "Compelling and Inspiring Stories from the Mission Field." This book first caught my interest with a story about some missionaries who were traveling from one island to another to show The Jesus Film to a group of unbelieving fisherman. On the way, they encountered a threat from a large sea creature and a faulty boat engine, which not only gave out, but also caught on fire. Just when fear began to overtake them, a woman on the boat began praying. The scary creature, perhaps a hippo, instantly disappeared into the water. A man on the boat was able to stop the fire by disconnecting some wires, and others on the boat happened to find an oar. Although it was a single oar, and it was extremely weighted, a missionary found the strength to row them for SIX HOURS! Everyone arrived safely onto the shore. They carried out their plan to show The Jesus Film, and many lives were led to Christ the following day. This book certainly reaffirmed my belief in miracles!

I LOVE non-fiction! :-)

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 11, PRABE #10!

These past weeks of Pleasure Reading And Blog Entries have truly flown by! In review of the PRABE experience, I have thoroughly enjoyed it! Aside from already enjoying the 'art' of blogging, I appreciated the fact that I had to literally make quiet time for myself to actually sit down and enjoy a good book. It has been wonderful.

Please do not take this as a supercilious comment, but I have heard many times, mostly from people at church who hear me read during Sunday School or services, that I am a great reader. However, I have never truly liked reading. I can think of a million other things to occupy my time before considering to settle down with a book.

I must admit -- I was not happy when I learned I would HAVE to read for 90 minutes each week. I must also admit -- last week, when I had a half-hour of spare time, the first thing that came to mind was, "Hmmm...I wonder if there are any good books on the shelf downstairs?" :) Reading as an assignment has certainly heightened my interest and forced me to "try it." Now, my problem is that I'm probably sitting on the couch reading when I should be doing laundry or dishes. :)

My plan is to maintain this blog and continue journaling my reading moments. This has been a great outlet for me, and I am excited to keep growing as a reader -- even if I AM going on 30!

~Sarah

Week 10, PRABE #9

"She Can't Even Play the Piano!" is a compilation of personal experiences that have been put together by Joyce Williams. As a Pastor's wife, Joyce knows all too well the invisible expectations that can burden the spouse of a minister. I have been privileged to know Joyce through her time spent at the largest Nazarene church in Kansas as her husband served as the Senior Pastor there. I have also been blessed to attend several conventions with Joyce Williams as the guest speaker.

My husband is completing his degree in ministry, and some day I will be "the pastor's wife." I have served on a church board for over ten years, and after interviewing many times for pastoral positions, I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to balance the demands that are placed on a pastor's wife with all of the hats she wears at home, at work, and at church. One thing that I really like about this book is the fact that all of the stories are real. These are real ladies who have overcome real obstacles, and they all have real faith. Even though some may not have the stereotypical ability to play the piano, they all have a true ability to serve in other ways. I can definitely foresee myself using this book as a resource in my future!

And, luckily, I am a pianist. :)

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 9, PRABE #8

I got lost in a book this week.

I plopped down on a couch, simply to look at the cover of a book that caught my eye. Before I knew it, I had been reading for over an hour. It was WONDERFUL and SO relaxing!

Ironically, the book was not one that would typically hold my interest -- it contained a lot of history! But, somehow, I was captivated. The book was sitting on a table in a room with a grand piano and a gorgeous chandelier. (I was at The Castle Inn at Riverside in Wichita, KS.) I have no doubt that the ambiance of this particular room made the book that much better!

The book was titled, "Love Letters," and contained envelopes and packets that held replications of actual letters from known names like Dylan Thomas and Robert Browning. My favorite letters were the ones that were written by men who in the wars and anxiously awaiting to get home. The art of writing can be so beautiful -- I love it!

This morning, I spent some time in a book called, "Getting Rid of the Gorilla." One of the things I want to work on in my own life is the act of forgiveness, as it does not come easy for me. A friend from church recommended this book to me. I am really becoming quite fond of it because it doesn't dwell on what I already know: why I should forgive, how to forgive, etc. Instead, the tone of the book is very 'understanding' and encouraging, and the book reconfirmed to me how much God truly loves me. That is exactly what I needed today.

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 8, PRABE #7

This week has been a race against time, and it's only about to get faster. As such, I have not been able to complete my reading all in one piece but in several, shorter increments.

I am very close to finishing "The Five People You Meet In Heaven." I have nothing to complain about regarding this wonderful book with wonderful real-life lessons (a great thing about Mitch Albom books), other than the fact that it has made me cry. This book is about a man who dies in an attempt to save a little girl in an accident. The moment before his death, he feels two hands, and the very next moment, he is in his afterlife. He discovers that upon entering Heaven, you meet five people who explain your earthly life. He longs to find out so many answers to questions he had in life, but primarily, he is left wanting to know if he was able to save the life of that little girl.

I am considering watching the movie of this story, but I have a feeling that it won't hold a candle to reading the book!

The other book I have been reading when I have short moments of time is "Laugh Yourself To Sleep: Offbeat Devotions for the 'Unconventional' Woman." This book has definitely prompted some giggles and has truly been a FUN read. I recommend it to anyone who is needing some light, funny content.

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 7, PRABE #6

I am so lucky to have a friend at work who shares her books with me! :) I finished up One More Day, and I started another Mitch Albom book yesterday, "The Five People You Meet In Heaven."

Wow. I'm not sure what it is about these books, but I am in. love. "One More Day" was a little more sad than the others, but it was still a great book full of real-life applications. It really made me stop and think about what I do with my daily gift of 24 hours, and whether or not what I'm doing is a.) worthwhile and b.) making me a better person.

Several parts of this book made me think about different circumstances that people are facing that we may be completely unaware of, and I specifically began thinking about my role as a teacher with my students. I need to always remember that each child will be entering my classroom with a different story, and some of those stories are not going to be pretty.

One of the quotes that reminds me of students says this: "...there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking."

I pray that I will always remember this as I continue my days as a teacher. Kindness and gentleness should always be present with these little, impressionable lives.

~Sarah

Week 6, PRABE #5

Over two lunch periods, I started AND finished another Mitch Albom book. (Yes, I love him!) This book is a non-fiction work, called, "Have A Little Faith." Albom writes about one of the most difficult tasks he has ever faced in his life: writing the eulogy for his rabbi. This rabbi isn't just another "man of God." He has been with Mitch from the very beginning, watching him grow up, guiding him along the way, and teaching him valuable life lessons.

My favorite quote from the book will be one that I hold onto for a long time. I think it is so appropriate for all of us in this class, as future teachers.

"The most inspirational man I knew only reached his potential by helping a child reach his."

It will forever be my prayer that I will always do my best to help my students reach their potential, and by doing so, I will reach mine.

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 5, PRABE #4

In the past few years, I have developed an intense interest in autism research. As such, I enjoy reading various books about the topic, ranging anywhere from sensory issues and eating habits to immunizations and behavior analysis.

The book that I have been enjoying this week is titled, "Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds," by Jenny McCarthy. In this text, Jenny has collected a number of personal stories from parents who are raising an autistic child. Some of them express concern regarding immunizations, some express the frustrations of daily battles, and others express heartache and grief from losing a young child.

I like this book because it is really making me think outside of the box. It makes me set my personal views aside and consider someone else's true situation. While we can certainly take a stance on something, it is important to remain open-minded about others' opinion, especially when they have first-hand experience with the matter at hand, such as having a child with autism.

I look forward to finishing this book in hopes of learning more about this topic which has greatly affected my own family.

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 4, PRABE #3

Having a sick baby can be extremely stressful and exhausting. However, I must selfishly admit, I enjoyed holding my youngest yesterday -- all day...and getting in some good reading!

My plans were altered a bit, and I picked up a book (by my very favorite author) that I read a few years ago called Traveling Light. I have a couple of friends who are in the hospital with their 22-month-old daughter as she fights for her life, and they are on an emotional roller coaster that most of us can't even begin to imagine. I wanted some encouraging words to share with them, and I knew this would be the perfect resource.

In Traveling Light, Max Lucado basically dissects the passage of Psalm 23, and the outlying message is that too often, we (being human) hang on to burdens in life that were never meant for us to carry. As a result, our "load" becomes too heavy, and until we let it all go, we are bogged down, trudging through life with more weight on our shoulders than what is necessary. Having a natural tendency to worry and be anxious, this passage has quickly become one of my favorites:

"The key is this: Meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today."

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 3, PRABE #2

I began my week with some casual online reading in search of a quote to post on Facebook in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Of course, I was sidetracked and spent more time reading about him than what I should have.

I ended up using this quote: "Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude."

Think on that for a minute. I love it.

Later in the week, I finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie. Ladies and gentlemen, I have officially found a new (second) favorite author in Mitch Albom. Every book of his that I pick up, I cannot put down. The reading is so simple, and the content is applicable to every day living.

My favorite part of reading this week went right along with the topic of the quote by Dr. MLK, Jr. Forgiveness.

Albom writes, "Tears are okay. It's not just other people we need to forgive; we need to forgive oursevles. For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened." (166)

For some reason, I have always struggled with forgiving myself, and I have many regrets in life. This book really spoke to me about letting go and moving forward.

Now, I'm diving into another book by Mitch, "For One More Day."

I. can't. wait.

Forgive yourself,
Sarah

Week 2: PRABE #1

My book for pleasure reading this week has been Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Album.

Every time I read this book, I take away a new lesson that I can apply to some aspect of my life. For me, that is what makes a book come to life -- when you can read it again and again and continue to not only learn new lessons, but also apply them to daily living.

One of the classes I teach for Hutch CC is Cultural Anthropology, and I'm learning a LOT - not only about what culture is, but what culture isn't. In the book I mentioned above, I love what Morrie says: "Culture - don't buy into it. I don't mean you disregard every rule of your community. I don't go around naked. I don't run through red lights. The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value -- those you must choose yourself. You can't let anyone or any society - determine those for you." He then goes on to say, "It's the same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it."

It reminds me that those personal views in life are all mine, and I don't have to agree or disagree with someone based on who they are, where they are from, how they were raised, or where they worship. Those thoughts and values are mine, and it is up to me to live accordingly.

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Until next Tuesday, think on these wise words...