Welcome to this blog. In today’s superficial and often deceptive world we all need positive, encouraging truth to guide us, train us, and assure us. I find that truth in God and I try to pass it on. As a father and high school teacher I have had the opportunity to listen to, empathize with, advise, and challenge my children and my students. The following notes capture some of those interactions. Hopefully they benefit you also.

In writing I have tried to be genuine, humble, and open to listening and learning from God. I also try to put the advice into practice by God’s grace and power. As a reader I hope you approach these notes the same way. I pray they bless you and inspire you to become all God has designed for you to be and to do for his glory. He believes in you and wants the best for you. So do I. The most valuable gift I can give is to build you and others up and to help you draw near to God through Jesus. In time I hope God becomes your closest friend, your brightest future, and your deepest love.

Your friend and teacher,
Greenelsh

171 Gain from Loss

171 Gain from Loss

Ten years ago my dad died. He trusted and obeyed God and is now in heaven, for which I am so grateful. Today was his birthday, he would have been 80 years old. He had a big impact on my life and is one of the reasons I grew to know and love God. I miss him. Any loss...

170 Be Willing to Change

170 Be Willing to Change

I enjoy playing the game of chess. Mostly I compete against a computer program during lunch or when I have 10-15 minutes to spare. Often as the game develops, there is one move which determines the outcome. It's not necessarily obvious because it may come a third or...

169 Do Good

169 Do Good

This week my digital art students are working on creating a personal crest which represents something about themselves. One aspect they must incorporate is something or someone they value. What you value is important to reflect on because it influences your decisions...

168 Receive Grace

168 Receive Grace

As a digital artist I enjoy exploring new techniques, trying different styles, and learning new tools. One area I would like to get better at is three-dimensional modeling. It's been hard to make progress. My time with it has been limited and my training inconsistent....

167 Don’t Be Overly Concerned

167 Don’t Be Overly Concerned

For the last two years many people have experienced higher levels of stress and anxiety due to the pandemic and its troubling ripple effects. I've definitely felt this. I've been concerned about the health and safety of my family, being pushed out of my job, and the...

166 Discover Who You Are Meant to Be

166 Discover Who You Are Meant to Be

In the career readiness class I teach at high school, my students have been creating résumés which they will use to get jobs or scholarships. Many of them have never prepared a brief introduction of themselves which summarizes their education, skills, work experience,...

165 Seek and Share the Light of Truth

165 Seek and Share the Light of Truth

This week I introduced to the students in my high school yearbook class how to take effective pictures. One aspect of photography that makes or breaks an image is lighting. In fact without light there is no image. Without light there is no color. Without light the...

164 Give from a Full Heart

164 Give from a Full Heart

Today on a radio talk show I heard a girl call in to mention what she is doing to help residents in Louisiana who have been harmed by hurricane Ida. The host asked her how old she is and why she is doing that. She replied that she is nine years old and she is...

163 Never Walk Alone

163 Never Walk Alone

My wife and I just got back from driving our daughter, Grace, a thousand miles away to attend college. When we left her there it was a tearful goodbye and I know she felt alone and stranded from what's familiar and from those she loves. Many first-year college...

162 Enjoy Life

162 Enjoy Life

Lately I've noticed that I've been burdened and stressed over a number of things. First, our family has been in transition with our two daughters moving away. One has started her career and the other is beginning college. Second, I empathize with some of the high...