The Hoggatteer Experience - THE HOGGATTEER REVOLUTION

Chasing Dreams

8/20/2024

Originally posted August 1, 2014

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

There was a document, completed in 1776 by a great American. An insightful penman. A future president. The man? Thomas Jefferson. The document - the Declaration of Independence - severed governmental ties with Great Britain. One phrase is quite memorable:

It is as much as most people remember, but it does ring of poetry, doesn't it? There is a certain cadence to Mr. Jefferson's pen as he writes it.

Life. I know what that is.

Liberty. I think I understand what that is.

The Pursuit of Happiness. Now that's an interesting proposition. I mean, it's not a right to happiness, is it? It's our right to pursue of happiness.

Is that the same as chasing dreams? This year, our schoolwide theme at Cecil Floyd is dreams, and one of the first things that comes to mind is Chasing Dreams. We all think we know what we want. We all dream for a better life. We all pursue happiness in our own ways. But do we know how to catch happiness? Sometime we try things we think will get us there, but we fail.

Oh here we go again! We fail. We fall. We stand back up. And we look to our dreams, once again. But the question remains the same: are our dreams the same thing as our happiness? I bluntly proclaim that they are not! Our dreams are merely an image that we create in our minds - an image that inspires us, motivates us, compels us get off our duffs and move toward happiness. If I wish to take advantage of my right to pursue happiness, I must not give up. No matter the obstacle. No matter the hindrance. No matter the misstep. I must never give up.

My dreams are a spring that propels me forward into my future. Whether that future is a happy one may or may not be true, but hey, I stand back up, and I keep chasing dreams. Perhaps, from time to time, I will catch one. I know from experience that this is true.

We Dreamers Have our Ways

8/18/2024

Originally posted August 3, 2014

You can give in, you can give out, but you don't give up.

THE OTHER 99Several years ago, I was privileged to be in the audience of a Barry Manilow concert in Oklahoma City. Did you just chuckle? I have enjoyed Manilow's singing since high school in the 80s, and I especially like his more inspirational songs. To introduce the song God Bless the Other 99, Manilow quoted the above, from President Kennedy.

Manilow described his ascendancy in the music industry, telling how he started as an accompanist for people auditioning as singers. During that time, he said, he noticed that only one out of a hundred got a job. In his observations from a position sitting behind a piano, he studied the other 99 and learned from their tenacity and perseverance.

I learned more from failure than I learned from success.
I learned from no thank you, so much more than from yes.
I learned to be willing to lead with my chin.
And if I were willing to lose, I could win.

I learned from the losers who got right back in line.
The dimmer their future, than the brighter they'd shine.
Three cheers for the one, the one in a hundred.
But God bless the other 99.

It's a hard thing to learn. It's a hard thing to go through. And we probably have to look back on our failures before we learn from them. I wonder, though, if it is possible to learn while we are experiencing the struggle. Is it possible to learn and adapt during the event? Are we encouraged when we see others accept their failures, dust themselves off, and keep going.

One thing I hope to instill in my students is the idea that we can also learn from the mistakes of others (the main reason for studying history, in my opinion). After all, I don't have time to make all the mistakes on my own, and if I can avoid making the mistakes in the first place, I should take advantage of that opportunity. We all have a lot to learn from the other 99.I MADE IT THROUGH THE RAINI've seen Manilow in concert three times over as many decades, perhaps officially making me uncool. My favorite song is one entitled I Made It Through the Rain. I was pleased to see him perform a poignant version a couple of years ago in Tulsa. In this version, he interweaves old recordings of his grandfather encouraging him to sing Happy Birthday when he was very young. I love how he connected this song with his passion for music. His treatment of the song, interwoven with his grandpa's encouragement really is endearing. I connected with the song, in the 1980s, when I heard the first lines:

We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive
We keep the feelings warm
Protect them from the storm
Until our time arrives
Then one day the sun appears
And we come shining through those lonely years

They are lyrics that encourage me to keep going. Stick to it. Persevere no matter what havoc the storm may inflict around me. The song continues:

When friends are hard to find
And life seems so unkind
Sometimes you feel so afraid
Just aim beyond the clouds
And rise above the crowds
And start your own parade
'Cause when I chased my fears away
That's when I knew that I could finally say

I made it through the rain
I kept my world protected
I made it through the rain
I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain
And found myself respected
By the others who
Got rained on too
And made it through

And there we have it: one step in understanding that being a dreamer means working through the storm - our problems, our barricades, our relationships - and coming out standing in the sunshine. Keep your chin up, aim high, and boldly press forward to success.

Then there is this, from Abraham Lincoln:

What matters most is not how many times you fail,
but that you never stop trying.

Greetings from Colorado XX

8/17/2024

Dear Friends,

We returned to the Frazier River Trail a few times during our visit. Since the river skirted our condo, it was a convenient way to wind down at the end of a day - and before I could visit the hot tub and steam room for a few minutes in the evening all by myself.

God Made the World

8/16/2024

There is limited enrollment in these classes, but tuition and materials are entirely free. Sign up at madeinsix.org.

We will meet at the church of Christ building in Carthage, Missouri, starting at 6:30pm on Tuesdays in September of 2024, for the newest installment of our Made in Six classes. These Christian apologetics classes are for K-2 children who want to know more about God's pattern of creation.

The first of the four classes is titled God Made the World. The book we will read comes from the Apologetics Press Early Reader Series, and every student in the class will receive a copy of the book to take home (In fact, every student will receive a copy of one of these books every week during the course.).

While we wait for everyone to arrive and get their name tags, you may want to look at this video which shows the earth from the International Space Station (ISS). It is incredible to think that we're down there right now.

Apologetics Press has released a video to accompany the book we are using. In our class, we will read the book live with the kids, but there is also some beautiful imagery that accompany the text in the video.

Have you every thought about how our earth was made?

Who made the earth? There is another word for made: we say that God created the universe (That's the earth and everything else.)

Where would you go in the Bible to find out about the creation of the world?

Day One

Can you imagine nothing? I can't, but I can close my eyes and see nothing - nothing but darkness, that is.

After reading about the first day of creation in God Made the World, let's watch this video until the 1:09 mark.

Day Two

But the world wasn't ready for plants or animals or humans yet, was it? God still had to prepare it for us - so it would be safe for us, so it would grow food for us, and so we could make things (like buildings to live in, cars to drive, etc.). In fact, there wasn't even any air to breathe on the earth yet. I'm sure glad that God didn't make people before He made air, aren't you?

After reading about the second day of creation, let's continue to watch that last video, this time from the 2:06 mark to 3:02.

We don't even have to think about breathing. Can you describe the air? Can you see the air? How do you know it's there?

I'd like to do a fast science experiment now. At your table is a plastic bag that you can use your air to inflate (but on my signal, pay attention and I'll show you a quicker way!).

Day Three

Let's read about the third day of creation. We won't have much to say about this day, because the second session of this class will be all about God making plants. Come back next week for that one!

Does your family have a garden? How about house plants? Do you help water those plants?

What kinds of things do we get from plants? You probably eat fruits and vegetables that come from plants, but we also get things like syrup. Plants like trees provide wood we use to build things. They also provide shade on a hot day or shelter from the rain.

Day Four

Next, we read about Day Four. What an exciting day this is! After we read, we will return to the Earth video under Day One (above) and watch the video from 1:09 to 1:45.

Have you ever seen a picture of the earth from outer space? It's mostly blue, isn't it? That water is important for us: we couldn't live without it...and yet, the earth still wasn't ready for humans on the fourth day. God still had a plan to make it just right for us.

All of these things make it possible for us to know what time it is and what day it is. In fact, we know when a year has passed when the earth travels around the sun one time. Watch 3:03 to 4:25 of the same video now to learn more.

How many times has the earth traveled (revolved) around the sun since you were born? Let's figure it out.

The earth also spins while it travels. We call that rotating. It does one rotation for every day.

Day Five

On the fifth day of creation, God made all the animals that live in the oceans and all the animals that fly. We'll cover these in their own classes in our third and fourth sessions of the class. For now, let's read in our book.

Watch more of the Earth Video under Day One (above), from 1:45-2:06.

Every time we look at any animal, we might wonder about how God came up with that thing! They are all made to live together on the planet in just the place where they live. Some are just perfect for living in the desert. Others live well in the cold. Some are made to live in wet, muddy places while others like dark caves.

God knew what He was doing when he made all of these creatures, from the biggest whale to the smallest insect.

Day Six

Day Six is finally here and it's the whole reason why our classes are called Made in Six. This is the last day that God created the world. Let's read about it in our book.

Return to the Earth video and watch the rest of it, from 4:25 to the end.

What are some land animals that amaze you? Do any of them live with you?

Can you believe that? God made one man and one woman on the sixth day of creation, and now there are more than 7,000,000,000 people living on the earth! That's a lot of people. Some of them are super nice, and some of them don't have very many manners at all. We bump into people in crowds. But we also try to work together to make the world a better place. No matter how other people treat me, I try my best to treat them the way God wants me to treat them. Jesus says we should treat other people the way we want to be treated.

Day Seven

We're just about finished. Let's read about the seventh day. That's the day God stopped creating and called it all "very good". Do you ever make something and then look at it and think it's very good. Maybe it was a piece of art. Maybe it was a sandwich.

Let's go to our tables and make a craft. Maybe when you're finished with it, you'll say it's cool or it's awesome. It's not going to be the same as when God made the planets, but maybe you'll think it's pretty anyway. We start with a table tennis ball.

Look for other Made in Six courses coming soon. We're working on some special plans for various ages. Find and follow us on our Made in Six, Carthage, Missouri Facebook page to stay up to date!

Sermon: John the Mathematician

8/15/2024

My sermon begins at 25:25.

Professional Pet Peeve: Stop Driving in the Ruts

8/14/2024

Originally posted August 31, 2019

I follow a few education gurus on the Twitter and the Facebook, and I understand the importance of finding materials, methods, and ideas from people who seem to be successful. At the same time, I have noticed that when some teachers read that expert's books, posts, or blog, the teachers often buy in to everything that expert might say. They reproduce everything the expert does and says, expecting the same results.

But that is not how it works.

You see, we often think that education is a science. It may be, but I suppose we know less about this branch of science than we do about how to cure incurable diseases. Put simply, what works for one person does not necessarily work for another. I would encourage you to take what these people put out with a grain of salt. That's not to say we can't learn from them, but to bite on everything, hook, line, and sinker, it to fail to discern what works for you. We all - teachers and students - are different. Rather than drive in someone else's ruts, how about picking and choosing the things that will work for you - a little from this guy, a little from that book, a little from this video, a little from that keynote - and include them along with your own strengths. I don't ever want to teach without my personality and strengths, but that's exactly what happens when I try to become somebody else. Take some from Ron Clark, some from Gerry Brooks, some from Dave Burgess, and some from your own teaching neighbors, and blend them all together to make them work. For you and your students.

Quote: Character

8/13/2024

“Within the character of the citizens lies the welfare of the republic.”
(Cicero)

Greetings from Colorado XIX

8/12/2024

Dear Friends,

For what it's worth, here are my photos of the inside of the Argo Mill. I can't even imagine how much gold ore has passed through here. The facility is enormous as it was the only such operation in the area. This is where the gold was separated from the worthless rock around it. Many techniques were employed, some of which were deadly for workers. Cyanide and other chemicals were involved in part of it. Crushing machinery was another part. Even now - and even though I like to touch historical items - I was a little hesitant to lean against anything or touch something that might stir ghostly chemicals into the air to breathe (The maid hasn't been in there to dust in quite some time.).

Don't ask me about how any of it worked: it's too complicated to remember. All I know is that these guys were pretty smart to be able to figure it all out.

Greetings from Colorado XVIII

8/11/2024

Dear Friends,

Here's some nasty business. The 1893 Argo Tunnel definitely has a storied past. The tunnel was made to drain area mines of water. This is an EPA superfund site, so it's kind of scary just going inside. There is a large riveted door at the dead end of the tunnel (and I do mean dead end). The pressure of the water on the other side of the door is monitored closely with a state-of-the-art system.

At some point three men went inside the tunnel. Thinking they could mine just a little bit deeper, things suddenly got hairy. One of the men figured out what was going to happen, so he started to run back out of the tunnel only to be met with a high pressure blast. He knocked against the rock walls as the pressure shot him out of the tunnel entrance. By that time, his body was shredded and mangled to a pulp. Somehow, the other men are still behind that door and will likely never be recovered. The story is a little more colorful than I've told it, but you get the idea. There's a great deal of ugliness that occurred in Colorado gold mining (and there probably still is).

Sermon: Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

8/10/2024

Greetings from Colorado XVII

8/9/2024

Dear Friends,

Our arrival at the Argo Gold Mine and Mill was met with some warm weather. At first sight, this facility isn't too impressive. Oh sure, it's large, but it just looks like a bunch of old rusty equipment that's been left out in the rain. Our tour would begin with a bus ride up the incline to the top, where we would begin to learn a little more about the types of activities that were performed on this site.

Many mines in the area would bring gold oar here to be processed in the mill. I can't begin to tell you what that process is. Yes, I was listening, but the process is complicated and dangerous, and I doubt you'd be interested anyway. There were so many ways that working here could kill a person.

Like I say, I'll spare the details. I'll take you inside soon, as well as take you into the tunnel - which is different from any other underground facility, tunnel, mine, or cave that we've ever been in.

Sermon: John the Broadcaster

8/8/2024

My sermon begins at 22:20.

Little Guys Can Move Mountains

8/7/2024

Originally posted August 30, 2023

These are pictures of an ant. The ant is walking across my driveway while carrying an oversized load. This ant reminds me of an overloaded semi, trailing one of the turbines for an electricity-producing windmill. For the ant, this load is the wing of a larger insect. You have to wonder what he's going to do with that wing. It's a pretty wing, but I don't suppose the ant cares much about that.

Many of us carry heavy loads, as well. You can't always see them, but they are there - the worries of everyday life. Whether they be bills that shorten the lifespan of our paychecks, children who stray from the strait and narrow, illnesses that we can't seem to keep in check, the burdens we often bear are larger than we are, and like the ant, we find ourselves struggling to make it all work out.

That reminds me of a Frank Sinatra song called High Hopes:

Next time you’re found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around.
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant?
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant.
But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes.
He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes.
So any time you’re gettin’ low,
‘Stead of lettin’ go,
Just remember that ant,
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant, kerplop.

It's a catchy little ditty when put to tune, but the encouragement that song provides is really tried and true. It is right to say that we bear our own crosses - including all of the stresses and anxieties that we pick up along the path of life - but we also try to carry loads that we don't need to carry. The Lord tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because there is enough to think about today...but we still worry about the uncertainties that we're not even facing yet, don't we? We still let things get into our heads that we should put at His feet instead.

That ant in the pictures is not worried about what he's going to eat or where he's going to sleep. He's just tackling the problem in front of him.

That ant, by the way, is also succeeding in carrying a large load. Scripture informs us that Faith can move mountains. Jesus says that even the smallest amount of faith (as dinky a mustard seed) can achieve big things in our lives.

I look for a lesson in the ant carrying a giant wing, but an ant can carry 10-50 times his own weight. No human could do the same, but with faith in God - and God's assistance - we will be able to bear tremendous burdens, too.

Quote: Education

8/6/2024

"The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings."
(Wendell Berry)

Greetings from Colorado XVI

8/5/2024

Dear Friends,

Here they are as promised: the videos I took at Steve Spangler's Science in the Rockies educational conference. This was one of the culminative events of the week - The Great Potato War '24, in which participants (including my wife) used their potato launchers to propel raw chunks of potato at each other.

It reminded me of marching behind the soldiers on one of my own experiences. Check out the similarities in the reenactment at Fort Ticonderoga, five years ago. That battle continued for a while and merited a second report at which you should also take a gander.

I told Spangler about another historic trip I took just six years ago. On that occasion, I had the opportunity to visit with Dean Norton, the director of horticulture at George Washington's Mount Vernon. Norton admitted to spending dark evenings on the shore of the Potomac River at the estate and propelling potato projectiles at late-night fishermen (unbeknownst to the fishermen).

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