Beyond Mediocrity Blog

(Image courtesy of https://prophecynewsandviews.files.wordpress.com.) As human beings we want to be justified; we want to feel acquitted.  For instance, how many people justify their decision to eat fatty foods with, "I worked out today"?  I have heard it said many, many times. To be honest, there is no way a human can be totally justified - except for one.

(Image courtesy of http://www.wheel.ie.) About a month leading up to our marriage, I suddenly realized I had no idea what it meant to be a leader.  Literally, I was scared to go into marriage because I knew I was expected to lead my family, but I felt unprepared and

(Image courtesy of http://www.stylonica.com.) Joyce Meyer wrote a book called God's Not Mad At You . Gerald and Kathy Hovater wrote a song called "God's Not Mad At You." Victoria Osteen (Joel's wife) wrote on Facebook: "God's not mad at you." Every single one of these written works has been met with incredible acceptance and remarkable, positive feedback.  It obviously rings a cord with Christians who desperately desire to be

(Image courtesy of http://www.driverlayer.com.) By way of introduction... Everyone has an opinion.  Everyone has something they want to say.  Everyone wants to be heard. If you have Facebook you know what I'm talking about.  What do you post on Facebook?  What do you see other people posting?  Stories.  Complaints.  Videos.  Gossip.  Bragging.  Problems.  It is a world saturated with self, dripping with

(Image courtesy of http://www.lovethispic.com.) Adrian Rogers is one of my favorite pastors.  On my way to school nearly every morning, I listen to him on the radio.  Today, at the end of his message, he gave an invitation for anyone who wanted to receive Jesus to pray the sinner's prayer after him.  After he ended, the music flared up and

(Image courtesy of http://wccvt.com.) A little boy, sitting in his school desk, is trying to solve a math problem.  He squirms uneasily, growing increasingly frustrated at the fact that he cannot find the answer.  He begins to sweat and his eyes begin to swell as the frustration mounts.  Timidly, he tugs at his teacher's dress as she walks by.  "What's wrong, Tommy?" she empathetically asks.  "I can't find the answer to this problem," he almost inaudibly murmurs.  "Oh, I see.  Well, did you know that God loves you?"  Puzzled, the boy looks back at his paper as his teacher meanders away with a satisfied smile on her face.

(Image courtesy of Charles Schultz, Peanuts .) As a high school teacher, I have the unique opportunity of observing many different people.  Not only do I get to form professional relationships and several, close friendships with my colleagues, but I also get to learn from the many students I see on a daily basis.  No that wasn't a typo.  Although I am a teacher, I find myself being taught just as many lessons as I teach my students. One lesson I learned was last year and it was from a freshman named