Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    
    
    	Mike Seabury......
    
    	
    
    
    
    	I love your notes!!!!
    
    
    	Carole

    I, too, enjoy your entries, Mike Seabury.  Your stories are simultaneously
    amusing and enlightening.  It is indeed a gift to be able to blend the
    two so articulately.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

     Carole & Richard:

     
         Thank you both very much for the compliment.  


                                                              Mike

Glad to hear you speaking up, Deb 91.1236!

Richard

Alfred 41.121,

	Please don't take my picking on Kansas too seriously.  Other than
the fact that most of my in-laws live in Kansas, my choice of state is
completely arbitrary. :-)  That plus I did spend a week there one day. &^}

	I've also been known to pick on lawyers.  My picking on lawyers,
however, is much more genuine.

Peace,
Richard

PS Don't take topic 459 too seriously either.

    Have no fear. You're much too nice a guy to be serious about picking
    on Kansas for real. And we see eye to eye on lawyers so we've now
    found some more common ground. :-)
    
    			Alfred

    Yeah, and, don't pick on Texas..
    				 the South
    					the United States Marines.

    Or .. there could be "trouble in paradise".

    :-)
    Bubba

    <-------HEAR, HEAR........ya'll!  :-)
    
    
    Dave

    Jerry B.
    
    Did you go to church like you said? If so, how did it feel?
    
    Marc H.

>   Did you go to church like you said? If so, how did it feel?
 
	I think he's still looking for the right one. One that will not
	kill him if it collapses from the shock. :-) I'm sure we'll hear
	about it when he finds and visits one.

			Alfred

    No, I didn't.  I decided to take the advice of a member of this
    conference and ask some questions first ... as opposed to just
    ditty-boppin' in and possibly getting the surprise of my life.

    Henceforth, therefore, however, I've decided to "interview" some
    churches first ... take it slow and easy ... but I've not given
    up - believe me.  If I say "no, I've changed my mind" then I'd have
    Alfred to contend with ... a fate that I do not wish to ponder.

    Bubba

    
    Hi Bubba,
    
    Just curious, but what does interviewing a church include and how
    do you go about it?
    
    Jill
    
    

.12> Just curious, but what does interviewing a church include and how
.12> do you go about it?

    First, everything has been delayed until I get Q4 out of the way - that
    has got to come first.  It's not an "excuse" but more along the lines
    that the company needs all of the business that we can possibly bring
    in right now.  I've had to put a lot of things on hold until Q4 is
    over.

    Second, I've decided (with some *very* helpful suggestions from one of
    your illustrious moderators, Mr. Christie) to do this "right" - and -
    why not?  I'm going to give this some very careful thought and
    (literally) make up a list of questions about the "church" under
    consideration.  I'm going to talk to a few members .. and possibly to
    the pastor, priest, rabbi, or medicine man.  I'm going to make a
    decision based on the results of those answers.  I'll even keep you
    posted on how it progresses *after* a few Sunday visits ...if you want.

    Now, for the time being ... let me turn this around ... I would perhaps
    address this to the members of this conference who have (for lack of
    better words) "left the church" and may consider returning ... what
    kinds of questions would you ask before "returning" to organized
    religion?

    You have my resolute word (and I am a brutally honest person) that I
    will post the (1) questions and (2) answers of each of the houses of
    worship to whom I address those questions.  The churches will be
    identified by denomination.  This will be the subject of a new and
    possibly VERY interesting base note.

    In the meantime ... any "cravats" that anyone would like to offer?

    Bubba
    
    PS - as you may or may not have noticed my notes have been few and far
    between as of late - and the time stamps on the notes are at incredible
    hours!

    Re.13

         Jerry:
                Sure I got a nice "cravat" for you. A blue and silver, silk
         paisley one with just a hint of red in it. It looks smashing
         with a gray suit.

                                            
                                                               Mike

Bubba Jerry (.13) gives me too much credit.

But allow me to take this opportunity to explain that my surname is
actually Jones-Christie, rather than Christie.  Of course, computers
have a hard time dealing with monikers like mine, and so J_CHRISTIE became
my account name.

Jones was my spouse's (Sharon) maiden name.  And Christie was my "maiden"
name.  Our names were merged when we married almost 13 years ago.

Richard Jones-Christie

I feel most fortunate to have been able to talk to a couple C-P members
this week, if only briefly:  Alfred Thompson and Dave Dawson.

This may be a surprise to Dave as he didn't realize (I suspect) that he
was talking to me.  Didja get that PCS+ fixed, Dave?? ;-}

Peace,
Richard

    RE: .16 Richard,
    
    		     So that was you!  And *NO*.....I'll have to go back in
    a couple of weeks. :-(  Its only 120 miles away!   And listen...the
    next time can ya tell me who ya are?  ;-)
    
    
    Dave

Alvin Orzechowski reports that, "If all goes well with my project you
should be seeing me back in C-P in a week or two," and he requested me
to:

"Please say, 'Hello!', to everyone for me."

Think "Peace",

Alvin

    473.6  Thank you, Patricia!  I've missed you during your absence.
    I suspect others have as well.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    .19,
    
    > I've missed you during your absence.  I suspect others have as well.
    
    Yes, like me Pat!  Good to 'see' you again and hear about your week
    long UU retreat.  Sounds like my kind of week!  :-)
    
    Karen

Me too, good hearing from you.

((hugs)),

Jim

    Thanks Richard, Karen and Jim for the greetings.
    
    Patricia

    Well ... now I am convinced that there *is* a God ... my feet are on
    Texas soil again .... He has seen fit to let me visit His country ...
    that's right ... this *is* *God's* country!!  TEXAS!
    
    Bubba_who_is_enjoying_his_vacation_in_God's_country

Bob,

	I wanted to thank you for 101.76, 101.79, and 101.83, which I
thought were very insightful and worthwhile reading.

	Also, I appreciated 9.245, which seemed to be to be too easily
drowned out by the surrounding thunder.  What you said there has come to
mind several times now.

Shalom,
Richard

Just want to say that I'm sincerely glad to see Alfred Thompson and Pat
Flanagan noting here again.  We are richer as a conference for their presence.

Peace,
Richard

    <--
    
    I second that!
    
    Karen

    Gee guys, you have me blushing,
    
    but thanks.
    
    Patricia

   Laura,

   Welcome, your insights are valuable.

   Shalom,
   Allison

Note 91.1430 Bubba,

>    Fine .. glad I could be of help ... just tell 'em you got the
>    information from a war mongering, smokin', cussin', drinking,
>    prevert of a Marine ... and see what happens.

Look at you!  Making it sound like you're some kind of awful beast!

Some of us have met you and we know you're not the contemptible brute your
notes indicate you are.  But if you want, we'll just keep it our secret.

The P word,
Richard

.1433> Some of us have met you and we know you're not the contemptible brute
.1433> your notes indicate you are.  But if you want, we'll just keep it our
.1433> secret.

Thanks, Richard.  I'd appreciate it if you kept our secret.  I'm really
a very intelligent pussy cat of a guy(*) ... but I'd infinitely prefer that
others not know it.

The "W" word,
Bubba

* (unless someone makes me mad .. which is relatively hard to do)

    523.26
    
    Good to hear from you, Pastor Ron!  I've been wondering about you and Dot
    lately, and how you're weathering the storm.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
    

    Thanks, Richard!  
    
    Well, I'm going to church Sunday.  Now ain't that somethen?  (The ONE
    in R.I.)
    
    Things are going slower than planned on the hunt.  Dot has enrolled in
    her last two classes: an O.T. class on Genesis, feminist and racial
    considerations at EDS (Episcopal Divinity School in Harvard Square); an
    educational class at ANTS.  
    
    She decided to apply for a church-related parttime job for the school
    year and for the time that we would be searching for a shared ministry
    position.  She had three interviews last week and two this week.  So
    far she has two offers and really hopes that a third offer will come
    during this weekend.  The two offers are for DCE (Director of Christian
    Education) and the other hoped for position is for an Interim Assistant
    Pastor.  I hope she gets that offer as well.
    
    Also, I have taken a new position within Digital and am now working in
    Marlboro for the Oil and Gas IBU as a member of the TPE (Technical
    Partnerships Engineering) Group.  The pace in this new position is
    nothing but rapid!
    
    I've maintained active reader mode here but the water has been a little
    too hot too often for me to want to add much (if that were possible).
    
    I must admit that I posed the question to myself one day, well -
    several days:
    
    	What would you do as pastor of the congregants gathered within the
    	leaves of this notesfile?
    
    Answer: hmmmmm
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    
    ps: the church Dot hopes to get the offer at is about three miles from
        my new office.
    
    		:-)

    Dot is the new Interim Associate Pastor for the Northboro
    dual-affiliated United Church of Christ and American Baptist Church. 
    She was called last night and begins work this Wednesday! (and I'm just
    bust'ng out all over)
    
    	:-)

    Great!
    		Fantastic!
    				Congratulations...
    
    And many, many blessings!
    

    That's *great* news Ron!  Please give my *very* best wishes and
    congratulations to Dot!  
    
    Karen (a Northboro native) :-)

    Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!  Blessed is the one who
    comes in the name of the Lord!
    
    Congratulations to Dot and her proud partner!
    
    Richard
    

    Thanks for all your good wishes!
    
    I'm meeting with the Senior Interim pastor on Wednesday to decide my
    part in Sunday's Worship Service.  Ron is standing here saying, "do the
    sermon, do the sermon."  HELP!!!
    
    Love,
    
    Dot

    Congratulations, Dot!  I'm so happy for you!
    
    Nanci

I'd like to hear from Nanci Van Fleet about the performance last Friday night.

I did not attend.  Sharon and I celebrated our 13th anniversary last Friday
by seeing the Aztec exhibit at the Denver Museum of Natural History, which
was *outstanding* and exhausting.  We returned home quite tired.

Richard

    It went great, Richard!  The audience wasn't a sell-out but it was a
    respectable size and *very* responsive.  We videotaped the show so let
    me know if you'd like to borrow the tape.  I'm going to dub some copies
    to send to some of the No on 9 groups in Oregon but that'll have to
    wait until I can come up with some spare cash for tapes.
    
    By the way - I'm doing another benefit for the Pikes Peak Church of
    Religious Science on Jeanine Drive and Academy on Sunday, Oct 25th from 
    6-9 p.m.  Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children (you may be
    able to get a deal for bringing your own chair, Richard ;-).  There 
    will be space on the sides of the sanctuary to get up and boogie with
    the performers.  My daughter, Emily will be singing the child's solo on
    _Convictions of the Heart_, one of Kenny Loggin's recent tunes.
    
    Nanci                                                          

    re: 5.42  the film "The Burning Times"
    
    I recommend this award winning film (documentary?) *most* highly.  
    It is also on videotape and can be rented from Native Spirit, a store 
    in Sudbury, Ma.  
    
    Karen

    
    .41 -
    
    Thanks Karen!
    
    Also - "The Burning Times" is the second in a trilogy of films on
    women's spirituality. The first one, "Goddess Remembered" (also
    available to buy or rent at Native Spirit) is about prehistoric
    Goddess-revering cultures in Europe. Filming/discussion of ancient sites in
    Malta, England, and Crete is interspersed with interviews with current
    women scholars such as Merlin Stone (wrote When God Was a Woman) and
    Charlene Spretnak (edited The Politics of Women's Spirituality). 
    
    I'm told that the third film in the trilogy ("Full Circle" I think it's
    called), about the present-day women's spirituality movement, has
    recently been released.
                                                            
    Dorian

    You're welcome Dorian, and, welcome to C-P!  Women's spirituality has
    not been discussed to any great length here, but its perspective on
    Christianity is as welcome and open for discussion as any other.
    
    I'm looking forward to seeing the other films in the triology. 
    
    Karen  

    
    Karen Berggren:
    
                   I've tried to send you mail the last two days
     and I get a message telling me you can't recieve new mail.
     
                                                      Mike
    
    PS. I'll try again tomorrow
    

    I've been off the air for awhile, Mike, while my accounts were 
    being transferred over to PK03. But looks like I'm up and runnin'
    now....
    
    Karen

Karen Berggren called me last night and we had a wonderful 
conversation.  She sends her regards to C-Pers.  I plan to see her 
this weekend at a workshop we are attending.  Any messages or hugs 
you'd like to pass along to her, let me know.

One of the reasons she phoned was to recommend a book to me entitled 
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (a Jungian 
analyst).  I was so inspired but her recommendation that I picked up 
the book at Barnes & Noble this morning before work.  From the back 
cover:

"Full of wondeful, passionate, poetic, psychologically potent words 
and images that will inspire, instruct, and empower women to be true 
to their own nature, and thus in touch with sources of creativity, 
humor, and strength.  This is depth psychology and writing at their 
very best."
				Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.

"A fasinating collection of traditional stories with feminist-oriented 
interpretations, both enlightening and empowering for every woman in 
search of her own inner spirit."

				Barbara G. Walker



I know that if Karen were still here, she'd pass this recommendation 
on to noters in this file herself.

Ro

Ro .46,

	Hug Karen for me.  A big squeezey one.

Peace,
Richard

585.18

Good to see you're still hanging in there, ace!

Richard

Note 91.2326

>    I've been out sick and just.......

Hope you're feeling better now.

Richard

    Well, Richard I'm getting a little close as I just flew into Oklahoma
    City yesterday afternoon to do some firefighting.  How goes it and
    what's the status on the pastor's position you recently applied for a
    few months ago?
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    

Note 455.50

>   How goes it and
>   what's the status on the pastor's position you recently applied for a
>   few months ago?

No reply.  I expected at least a note of acknowledgement.  I know the PSC
on which I'm presently serving plans to respond to every inquiry.

Otherwise, life is good.  I'm feeling close to Christ.  It is well with my
soul.

How about an update on you two?

Shalom,
Richard

    Richard,
    
    I'm glad that you are feeling connected with God and am sure something
    will open up for you in the pastoral dimension.
    
    Dot has been offered and has accepted the position of Sr. Interim at
    Northwood Trinity Church effective Feb 15th.  This is a fulltime
    position of 10 four hour units and has full ministry responsibilities. 
    She will be preaching every Sunday, will be ministering the sacraments,
    will be marrying people and providing the other rites of passage.
    
    Her new position will be in effect until a permanent pastor is called
    or until the end of June whihever comes first.  Dot is also preaching
    Jan 31st.
    
    My new mgr is aware of Dot's position and said she will work with me
    during this period and allow me to stay based in Acton as long as I'm
    willing to travel to customer sites on an as needed basis.  Sounds fine
    to me!
    
    I called our National UCC ofice and we have frozen our profiles and
    have asked for them to be distributed.  I also called the Deciples of
    Christ Conference office in Fort Worth and they are expecting our
    profiles along with a cover letter.
    
    I'm writing this note from my hotel room in Oklahoma City.  Tomorow I
    drive to Dallas to investigate homes with a realtor.
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron 

    
    Thanks Richard.  I'm here, kinda, sorta.  I'm not feeling all that
    good though.  I figure I'll try to get through 4 hours and head on
    home.  My strength is just not holding up.  Respiratory problems
    really both me in the winter with my asthma.  Oh well.  Thanks 
    again for your concern.
    
    Jill

My oldest stepson, Michael, drove up from New York where he attends 
Union Theological School to visit us the other day.  He told us that 
he decided that he will not just get his Master's degree there, but 
would like to be ordained as an Episcopal priest.  He enjoys his 
studies there so much that he has been inspired to continue the Reinke 
tradition by becoming the sixth generation of ministers.

Ro

    .54
    
    You must be pleased and very proud.  My prayers for God's continued
    guidance in Michael's calling.
    
    Richard
    

    It kinda makes ya feel REAL good when the next generations don't feel
    all that bad about the passing on of heritage/values ...
    
    	Ron
    

For a limited time (because it will only be current for a limited time)
I am making a complete directory of this conference available.

Directory LSTARK""::LSTARK$DKA200:[PUBLIC]

CP.TMP;1               2888  24-MAR-1993 13:19:43.00

If anyone is really interested I can do this once a month or so. Send mail
if this is useful.

		Alfred

PS: Complete means every note not just every topic.

Received a note from C-P alumnus Karen Berggren last weekend.

Karen said she misses our lively and stimulating conversations here
and sends her regards to everyone.

She assures me that "There *IS* life after DEC! :-)"

Karen has joined Compuserve.  Her address is "71644,1306".
She doesn't know the command to send mail to her DEC friends yet,
and I'm afraid I know not the command string to send a message to her
account.  But maybe someone here does.

Richard

    I haven't tried sending mail to Karen, but in general this is how you
    would send mail to a compuserve account.
    
    	NM%DECWRL::"[email protected]"
    
    -- Mike

    btw, CRL and US1RMC will also send mail externally

    Karen Berggren has left Digital, if I'm well informed. Does someone
    know how I could contact her? I'm in the US next week and would like to
    talk to her, if possible.
    
    Pls send mail to RENE HAENTJENS @BRO. Thanks.

I just got off the phone from a delightful conversation with C-P member
emeritus Nancy Smith!

Nancy is doing well.  No new employment yet, but she's maintaining a sense
of optimism.

She asked about a lot of you and sends her regards to all the notesfile people!

Peace,
Richard

    Sandy Bruso,
    
    	What horn do you play?
    
    Richard
    

            <<< Note 455.64 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE "We will rise!" >>>

    >Sandy Bruso,
    
    	>What horn do you play?
    
    >Richard
    

The French variety.  The *only* kind. :^)


Sandy

    .65
    
    ooo...you are *brave*
    
    I tried that for two years before finally giving up in despair!
    
    Daniel (audiophile in the *worst* way)

Sandy and Daniel,

I bought Don a didgerie-do (sp).  He's learning to play it and it is a 
tough instrument to master.  One of Karen Berggren's housemates is teaching 
him and at a gathering over the weekend Blake was giving him a lesson. 
Karen took a turn and wow she was great.  What a sound!!!

Ro

      <<< Note 455.67 by UHUH::REINKE "Atalanta! Wow, look at her run!" >>>
                      -< Australian aborigine instrument >-

>Sandy and Daniel,

>I bought Don a didgerie-do (sp).  He's learning to play it and it is a 
>tough instrument to master.  One of Karen Berggren's housemates is teaching 
>him and at a gathering over the weekend Blake was giving him a lesson. 
>Karen took a turn and wow she was great.  What a sound!!!

>Ro


Is that the Australian instrument carved from a hollow stick that you 
sort of buzz and sort of hum into?  I saw a demonstration years ago and 
was amazed at the variety of sounds that came out of it.  When I tried 
to play it, it ceased being an instrument and reverted back to being a 
hollow stick. :^)  


Best of luck to Don. :^)

BTW, where does one buy one?

Sandy

Yes, Sandy, that's it.  The authentic ones are logs that have been 
hollowed out by termites.  A few years ago, Cindy Painter and I 
attended a concert in Boston by a renouned didgerie-do player.  The 
aborigines use it in healing as well as for making sacred music.  The 
vibrations are said to be healing for the body as well as the soul.

The one I bought for Don is made from PCV piping!  A good player, 
however, is able to get the same sound out of it as from the real 
thing (which unfortunately was too expensive for me to afford).  I 
bought it from a place in Milford, NH.  Karen Berggren is going to 
make her own from PCV piping.

Ro

	I appreciate the warm reception here after my period of absence.
I don't wish to give the impression that I'll be able to return to my
previous level of involvement and participation in C-P.

	I have a terminal at home now and will try to check in with C-P
periodically as long as I can.  Without going into detail, I will share
that I am presently on STD (Short Term Disability).

In Christ's love,
Richard

    FYI. I was just talking Jerry Beeler (Bubba). He's been accepted to
    an alternate certification program and will be teaching high school
    math fairly soon.

    			Alfred

    Good to hear of Gen'ral Bubba's whereabouts!  I think he'll
    wow 'em in the classroom!
    
    Richard
    

    C'est fini!  I've just turned in my resignation with my last day of
    employment with Digital to be on Monday, November 15, 1993.
    
    I tried to obtain reduced work hours working out of the parsonage in
    Medford Wisconsin as a Unix Consultant but Digital appears not to be
    interested.  In some ways that is a shame as I firmly believe the
    company needs people with my skill set yet in other ways this just
    might be a blessing in that Dot and I can devote full time and full
    efforts to ministering to the people of our two yoked churches (one in
    Medford and the aother ten miles away in Dorchester).
    
    I've enjoyed this notefile throughout my five years as an employee -
    although I get kind of tense over the way some people claim ownership
    of something to me seems only to be owned by our Divine One.  I am
    especially grateful to all the people who shared comments either here
    or via email or via voice with regards to our ordination papers.
    
    I am going to post my resume in the JOBS notesfile to see if anybody
    might be interested in reduced hours although I doubt I'll get any
    takers.
    
    I will continue to read and reply here as long as my account stays open
    which, in my opinion, should be at the end of the day on Nov 15th.
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    

    .73  Well, I guess you know, Reverend Ron, you're going to be missed,
    and missed greatly.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard

    Is it my imagination or are we experiencing a bit of a lull in here?
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

           <<< Note 455.75 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE "Pacifist Hellcat" >>>
                             -< Is it my breath?? >-

    Is it my imagination or are we experiencing a bit of a lull in here?
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

People must be speechless!

	:-)

I received a letter from Karen Berggren, a former moderator of this
conference and a woman of enormous beauty and vitality, the other day.
She remembers everyone in C-P fondly and misses the spiritual connections
and confrontations she experienced while participating here.

Peace,
Richard

(.73) Rev. Ron Francey,

	Is there an address where those of us who wish to stay in touch
may write?

Your humble servant,
Richard

I'm pretty well disconnected except for my account here which goes
away after Monday.  I'm writing this from our parasw

parsonage which the people of the church have really put into
wonderful shape.

I don't know if my acct will last thru Monday and I can no longert
get in thru dtn's.  So, this is a long distance connect.

I really DO wish people would stay in touch.  The parsonage address
is:

Ron & Dot Francey
512 E. Broadway 
Medford, WI  54451
715-748-5108

Our first day "on the job"	:-)  :-)
is this coming Monday.

	Shalom to all our friends and best wishes!

	Ron & Dot
           <<< Note 455.78 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE "Pacifist Hellcat" >>>

(.73) Rev. Ron Francey,

	Is there an address where those of us who wish to stay in touch
may write?

Your humble servant,
Richard

    I'll stay in touch, Ron.  God bless you always.
    
    Shalom,
    Richard

From: CVG::US2RMC::"[email protected]" "Jerry Beeler"	Date: 20-Dec-93 09:54 PM
To: Alfred Thompson <cvg::thompson>
Subject: Bubba update

**Post in whatever 'Bubba' note is appropriate**
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Well folks - it's time for a "Bubba update".

It's been quite a while since I have solved quadratic equations, had to 
work with trigonometric identities  (and the like) so I was somewhat 
concerned about passing the teacher certification test.

There were three sections on the test - reading, math, writing.  You may 
never believe this but my years in  VAX Notes was V-E-R-Y helpful in the 
reading and writing sections!! 

The reading section consisted of short sections from articles, journals, 
etc .. and it was incumbent upon the person being tested to decide 
precisely WHAT the author was trying to say - what he was not saying - why 
he may have said it (within the context of what was written) - what could 
have been said better, etc .. Not too dissimilar from VAX Notes!!  Out of a 
possible 300 points I scored 298.

The writing section consisted of two parts - the first was (literally) 
rewriting a given piece to make it "better" (getting the point across in a 
better manner),  or more grammatically correct, correct spelling, etc .. 
(not an easy chore without a spell checker).  Out of a possible 300 points 
Bubba scored 300.

The 2nd part of the writing section was .. writing.  Given a subject matter 
and some background on that subject I was to write a three page essay which 
attacked or defended the position stated.  Hey, I've always thought that I 
wrote fairly coherent notes - and did my best to make every sentence, every 
paragraph, every thought .. count.  Out of a scale of 1 to 8 (8 being the 
highest) .. want to take a wild guess as to what Bubba scored?  You got it 
- a perfect "8".

The math section was not as good as the others - I scored 297 out of a 
possible 300.

So - bottom line - I passed my state certification test with what is by 
most practical measures - "flying colors".

What now?  I begin teaching high school in January.  I'm not sure of the 
subject matter at this point in time but it will be math, physics, or a 
computer related course.  Naturally, given about 1/2 a chance I'll be 
sticking my head into a civics or history class at any opportunity.

Now that I've been on the "inside" of education for a while (my experiences 
in the classroom during classroom observation and substitute teaching) I'm 
even more excited about teaching.  Quite frankly, I was expecting a lot of 
students who were not interested in learning, discipline problems, etc .. 
and some teachers who were working their butts off.  Yes, there were a lot 
of teachers who are genuinely and sincerely  interested in doing a good job 
- and are working toward that end.  BUT (you knew that was coming) I saw 
some teachers that I would like to throttle and a bunch of GREAT students.

All in all I have been genuinely impressed with the quality of the student 
body that I came into contact with.  Sure, there were those who could be 
discipline problems, those who "don't care" and the like - but - the vast  
majority were genuinely interested in getting an education.  Find this 
difficult to believe?  I agree - it  surprised me - but - it was a pleasant 
surprise.

Let me give you an example.  I was in a "Computer Math" class.  The class 
consisted of primarily  sophomore/junior level students.  During my first 
day of classroom observation it was nearly 10 minutes after the bell rang 
before the teacher said the first word - she was busy doing things that .. 
well .. let's say she wasn't well organized.  After a brief "lecture" or 
dubious quality, and during which the students  continued to run their 
mouth to their fellow students, the students were instructed to begin work 
on the 
problem of the day.  What happened?  The students held one of the largest 
BS sessions with their fellow  students that I have ever seen - they talked 
about everything EXCEPT the problem at hand !!

I stood listening to a group of 5 students (there were about 25 in this 
class) talking about music.  One of them turned to me and asked, "what kind 
of music do you like?"  I answered.  The discussion changed direction from 
music to cars to money to girls.  Finally, I addressed this small group of 
students (some of whom had known  me from another class):

"Look, I have no direct relationship with the <Deleted> Independent School 
District and anything that you  say will stay with me - so - question:  
Tell me, just what do you think of this class?"

Without hesitation one of the guys said, "Just look around - you can see 
what's going on - nothing.  Oh, by  the way Mr. Beeler, when are you going 
to start teaching - I sure would like to be in one of your classes?"

With all the seriousness and firmness that I could muster (and this is an 
exact quote): "Look, I'll talk to you  about cars, music, money, girls, 
work, life, anything - and I will genuinely enjoy doing it - but - and read 
me  well - I will not for one second compromise the educational process in 
doing so.  You'll work your butt off in my class and you WILL NOT stand 
around running your mouth like this.  Now, do you still want to be in  one 
of my classes?"

In unison - the five guys that were standing around said "Yes sir".  Not 
"yes", not "yep", not "OK", but .. "yes sir".

"OK, you know where I stand and I would be proud to have any of you in any 
of my classes - let's get to  work on today's problem".  They did.

The next day I had the occasion to be a substitute teacher for this class.  
When the bell rang each and every student was in his/her respective seat - 
I started talking a few seconds after the bell rang.  There was not a 
SINGLE instance of a student running his/her mouth, not a single instance 
of talking out of turn, not a single discipline problem.  Not even close.  
We *worked* the ENTIRE period.  Not a single complaint - not a single 
disgruntled comment about having to work.

After school some of these students took the occasion to come back to the 
room and THANK me for taking  the class - and they wanted to know if there 
was anything that they could do to see if  I could get hired at  that 
school district !!! One of the students told me that she didn't think I 
should teach high school - but  she'd rather I teach college so that she 
could be in some of my classes.

Sure made Bubba feel good.  Sure, there'll be some "bad" times coming but 
my first impression was  extremely positive.  I'm sure that the other 
teacher set the boundary conditions for her class such that they  were 
quite broad - and the students responded by extending their "creativity" up 
to the boundary  conditions.  My boundary conditions were narrow and very 
well defined - guess what - they never came  close - not even close to 
exceeding those conditions and we accomplished a great deal of work - and 
learning.

I was genuinely pleased to find that so many students are BIG - and I mean 
B-I-G- fans of Rush Limbaugh.  One student told me that "we need more 
conservative teachers - there's too <deleted> many liberals in the  
education system".  As soon as possible I'll be starting a "Rush Limbaugh 
Club" at my high school.  There's work that needs to be done along these 
lines - these young minds MUST be shown the light of truth,  justice, and 
the American way.  Most of you know that I'll be fair and honest and leave 
the way open to 
differences of opinion - and we will respect differences of opinion - but - 
and I mean this -  no way, no way in the world will I allow intolerance of 
differences of opinion, nor any attempts to "silence" those who have 
different opinions.

The most prevalent question in all of the classes that I participated in 
was "why are we studying this?".  In each and every instance, from world 
history classes, to American history classes, geometry classes, algebra 
classes, computer math classes - I was able to give examples of "why".  
Examples that relate to everyday life - examples that relate to getting 
ahead in the business world.  Examples that relate to personal life.  I was 
able to bring (what one teacher called) a "new dimension" to the classroom 
and to learning.  The students loved it.  I loved it.  I think I'm going to 
be a good teacher.  I'm looking forward to it.

Wish me luck.  Let me hear from you.

Bubba



% ====== Internet headers and postmarks (see DECWRL::GATEWAY.DOC) ======
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% Date: 20 Dec 93 21:43:10 EST
% From: Jerry  Beeler <[email protected]>
% To: Alfred Thompson <cvg::thompson>
% Subject: Bubba update
% Message-Id: <[email protected]>

    I, for one, am mighty glad that Jerry will be a teacher.
    
    Marc H.

re: Note 455.82 by Marc "I'm the NRA" 

I second that.  There's hope for the new generation yet.

Jim

I wish Bubba every success.  I'm sure he'll get his students thinking; one
of the most important things a teacher can do.

My conservative teachers enabled me to see from more than one side, though
they seldom convinced me to the point of changing my mind.

Thanks for the update, Alfred.

Shalom,
Richard

I received the following from Ruth Fannin.  She asked me to share it here:

Hi Richard,

Within a week my new address will be [email protected] -- You'll need to send
it through one of the internet gateways at DEC.

Ruth

Those wishing to stay in touch with Ruth Fannin may write her at:

nm%DECPA::"[email protected]" !"Ruth Fannin"

Richard

News of Revs Ron and Dot Francey:

We co-pastor two churches with each of us sharing in worship service and by
alternating on who does presents the sermon.  The two churches have
different profiles of persons.  The larger of the two are very similar to
people from small towns in MA.  The larger church is in a "city" of 4003
persons and there must be a dozen churches here.  Our church had 237
members on last years books and has been at that approximate number for
several years.  Attendance averaged 88.8 during Sunday worship last year.

We are now averaging around 110 persons per service and membership has
increased by 8 in January, 3 more this March and 8 confirmands in May.  The
hallmark to our plan for ministry is our visitations.  We get out regularly
and this for some strange reason had not been done for at least the
previous six years.  In fact, some people, even sick people, had NEVER been
visited during the past pastor's era.

We also are going to the jv and varsity basketball games, have gone on a
retreat weekend at a UCC summer/winter camp with 12 kids from 5th thru 9th
grade and with 4 adults (I went, Dot preached at our churches).  We're
bustling with energy, working 7 days a week, long hours each day - and
loving it!

We're involved with the Medford Clergy Association, I'm being voted in as a
member of the board for the county Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, we've
led the opening prayer for the county planning board and on and on.

Both churches now are having Communion on the first Sunday of the month.
Previously they had it 4 times/year.  We have confirmation classes at each
church that meets weekly or more times per week.  Today Dot took the larger
churches confirmation class to the First Baptist Church and I led service
by myself.  (We wish the kids to gain experience in other worship settings
so that they may be able to compare, contrast and take ownership of their
own faith on Confirmation Sunday).

The smaller church consists of primarily farming families.  (I had NO idea
how hard people worked and how dedicated persons people could be to tasks
at hand - without quibbling).  The smaller church averaged about 41.7
persons/week last year.  So far this year we are at the high fifties.

Both churches very much like our co-pastoring style.  Neither of us
specializes in any perceptible area and we share equally (whenever Dot lets
me - or so I tell our parishoners  :-) ).

We have been selected to be moderators during this years statewide
Conference (UCC) in small groups which are to discuss gays, lesbians et al.
I'm now very active in EcuNet and will be doing promotion of this to our
denomination as well as working to build it up for more effective
possibilities as time marches on.

I really don't miss Digital at all except for friends and for comunicating
with them via notesfiles and email.  BUT; I just found a way to batch
internet commands via email and so may be able to begin working on USENET
stuff fairly soon.

Please feel free to communicate any of this to C-P, including my EcuNet
email address.

    Shalom,
    
    Ron and Dot [[email protected]]

 5:41 pm  02/20/94
"May the Vision of a New Day be in each of our Hearts"

    Revs. Ron and Dot Francey; Community UCC/Peace UCC in Heartland of WI