I started a new job in April of this year. In the beginning it was pretty difficult because there was a significant period of adjustment; moreso than other jobs I've held. I've left the nursing field to work as a secretary at the University near my hometown. It's way less stress and great benefits altho' the pay is not nearly as good as in nursing. Still it's worth it! I'm happier in my current job than I've been in a long time.
I just had my 4 month evaluation (there is a 6 month probationary period) and I did great. It was nice to get perfect scores on everything and hear the wonderful feedback from my supervisor, Angie. My first eval was much harder, mostly 'cause I didn't know what to expect, I guess. Plus I'm pretty much a perfectionist in the work setting and I wasn't happy hearing negative things about me. To have Angie tell me how pleased she was in my performance, it was great! Here's hoping I'll be able to have another great eval in October so I can pass my probation.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Walking by faith...
I have to say talking with Jocelyn made me long to return to school so I could find a permanent vocation; one in which I would find joy in helping others and in doing my job to the best of my abilities. I think to really love your career you should not only enjoy the work but you should feel respected and valued in it. I want to be a part of a team that seeks to help each other and others in whatever way we can. Whether this will be in the secretarial or nursing field (or perhaps neither/both) only the Lord knows.
I am so happy to have a job I enjoy doing; to work with persons I respect and appreciate. There are so many things I've learned and I get such a kick out of doing just about everything. It's especially fulfilling to feel as though I'm needed. I feel such a sense of the Lord Jesus using this position to bring about adjustment in my life, whether it’s how those I work with view me or how I interact with customers who may be angry or my having to work through a misunderstanding. It’s all a wonderful opportunity for growth and maturity, from a spiritual perspective, if I let it. The really blessed thing is I am drawn to pray so much more and I am thankful for this!
Sadly, I've found in the past that some jobs I’ve held, though I attempt to live my life according to the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”), this is somehow misconstrued as “sucking up” to persons. As a Christian my desire is to bless others especially since I’ve been so blessed myself. (Sort of a “share the wealth” viewpoint!) :-) No matter how I am treated I believe it’s my responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect and to bless them by letting them know how I value them whenever I have the opportunity. I will continue to do this despite what persons think both in my private and professional life since this is what I feel called to do in my Christian walk.
I am so happy to have a job I enjoy doing; to work with persons I respect and appreciate. There are so many things I've learned and I get such a kick out of doing just about everything. It's especially fulfilling to feel as though I'm needed. I feel such a sense of the Lord Jesus using this position to bring about adjustment in my life, whether it’s how those I work with view me or how I interact with customers who may be angry or my having to work through a misunderstanding. It’s all a wonderful opportunity for growth and maturity, from a spiritual perspective, if I let it. The really blessed thing is I am drawn to pray so much more and I am thankful for this!
Sadly, I've found in the past that some jobs I’ve held, though I attempt to live my life according to the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”), this is somehow misconstrued as “sucking up” to persons. As a Christian my desire is to bless others especially since I’ve been so blessed myself. (Sort of a “share the wealth” viewpoint!) :-) No matter how I am treated I believe it’s my responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect and to bless them by letting them know how I value them whenever I have the opportunity. I will continue to do this despite what persons think both in my private and professional life since this is what I feel called to do in my Christian walk.
Josie & my day out
Today my niece, Josie, & I went out to lunch at a crepe restaurant around the corner from where I work. Josie had proscuitto and mozzarella crepe and I had a mozzarella and gruyere cheese crepe, then she got a nutella crepe for dessert and I had my usual banana, gruyere and honey crepe. We took the dessert crepes back to work with us so we could enjoy them as an afternoon snack. Josie really like her crepe, but though mine tasted good, it was so rich I couldn’t finish it. There were large chunks of fresh mozzarella in it and altogether it was a bit too much.
It was really nice to spend some time with Jos and to talk over cares and concerns. I'm always blown away by the wisdom my nieces and nephews show despite their youth; in some ways it puts me to shame how much I have to learn from them. I’m also ashamed because I so enjoy the children when I spend time with them, yet I make so little effort to meet with them! Josie is just starting a new job at a local goat dairy (in north-Champaign) and will be working part-time at her current job and part-time at the dairy through the summer than going full-time at the dairy in the fall. It sounds like a great opportunity and Josie’s happy she’s following her heart. The dairy owner wants to teach her how to make the cheeses the dairy is famous for along with milking and other chores, so Jos is really excited about it.
It was really nice to spend some time with Jos and to talk over cares and concerns. I'm always blown away by the wisdom my nieces and nephews show despite their youth; in some ways it puts me to shame how much I have to learn from them. I’m also ashamed because I so enjoy the children when I spend time with them, yet I make so little effort to meet with them! Josie is just starting a new job at a local goat dairy (in north-Champaign) and will be working part-time at her current job and part-time at the dairy through the summer than going full-time at the dairy in the fall. It sounds like a great opportunity and Josie’s happy she’s following her heart. The dairy owner wants to teach her how to make the cheeses the dairy is famous for along with milking and other chores, so Jos is really excited about it.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
I'm back...
I just saw my niece, Josie, is back to blogging and it's inspired me to try and start again. So here goes...
Under the category of (somewhat) recent news in my family:
Nils and Emily are officially engaged and are hoping to be married on September 16th or 18th (or at least those are the dates which have been mentioned). They are looking for a home to rent, at least for the first few years.
Britta and Roger just celebrated their first anniversary by going to Turkey Run Inn and spending Lord's Day night there.
Steve and Michele have been going through a lot of changes-->Steve has a new job at Abbott Labs, they've bought a new house in Fox Lake, IL, and Michele is busy trying to figure out what colors to use, etc. It's a four bedroom home with a basement so they'll have plenty of room for a change.
Danny is back in Tennessee after working for a few months at a job in Waukegan, IL. He didn't like the work, nor the community, as well as Tennessee so when his old company offered him a better job, he took it. He's also purchased a new home in Franklin, TN. Both Steve & Dan are the first Obergs to buy new homes since my parents did it back it in 1971, I think!
We had fellowship meetings this past weekend with Scotie Selman. I did my usual disappearing act, unfortunately. I broke a front tooth on Saturday morning and was too embarrassed to be seen by persons outside the family. Stupid on my part since I missed some really good meetings, and no-one cares what I look like, anyway. On the bright side, I did go out to meeting the weekend prior to this past one and had a really good time. Jeff & Mother were running a little behind and since this is unusual for them, Linda began to wonder why. Just as she thought, "Maybe Debbie's coming out to meeting, and this is why they're behind," I walked through the door. Funnily enough, I WASN'T the cause of their lateness, since I took a different car. Oh my reputation!
The other big news is I have been hired for a full-time position at the U. of I. I simply have to pass my six-month probation, and would value your prayers in this regard. It's in the Office of Continuing Education and I really enjoy the people I work with and the work I do. Most of all, I enjoy the fact that I have plenty of work to keep me busy. I am really thankful to have this position and have been blessed in not having to much time, etc. Each day is a new experience and for this I am deeply grateful.
Well, this is all I can think of for now. Oh, except Benjamin and Lars have gotten their driving licenses! Hooray for them! Oh, but how quickly they've grown...
More later
Under the category of (somewhat) recent news in my family:
Nils and Emily are officially engaged and are hoping to be married on September 16th or 18th (or at least those are the dates which have been mentioned). They are looking for a home to rent, at least for the first few years.
Britta and Roger just celebrated their first anniversary by going to Turkey Run Inn and spending Lord's Day night there.
Steve and Michele have been going through a lot of changes-->Steve has a new job at Abbott Labs, they've bought a new house in Fox Lake, IL, and Michele is busy trying to figure out what colors to use, etc. It's a four bedroom home with a basement so they'll have plenty of room for a change.
Danny is back in Tennessee after working for a few months at a job in Waukegan, IL. He didn't like the work, nor the community, as well as Tennessee so when his old company offered him a better job, he took it. He's also purchased a new home in Franklin, TN. Both Steve & Dan are the first Obergs to buy new homes since my parents did it back it in 1971, I think!
We had fellowship meetings this past weekend with Scotie Selman. I did my usual disappearing act, unfortunately. I broke a front tooth on Saturday morning and was too embarrassed to be seen by persons outside the family. Stupid on my part since I missed some really good meetings, and no-one cares what I look like, anyway. On the bright side, I did go out to meeting the weekend prior to this past one and had a really good time. Jeff & Mother were running a little behind and since this is unusual for them, Linda began to wonder why. Just as she thought, "Maybe Debbie's coming out to meeting, and this is why they're behind," I walked through the door. Funnily enough, I WASN'T the cause of their lateness, since I took a different car. Oh my reputation!
The other big news is I have been hired for a full-time position at the U. of I. I simply have to pass my six-month probation, and would value your prayers in this regard. It's in the Office of Continuing Education and I really enjoy the people I work with and the work I do. Most of all, I enjoy the fact that I have plenty of work to keep me busy. I am really thankful to have this position and have been blessed in not having to much time, etc. Each day is a new experience and for this I am deeply grateful.
Well, this is all I can think of for now. Oh, except Benjamin and Lars have gotten their driving licenses! Hooray for them! Oh, but how quickly they've grown...
More later
Saturday, February 04, 2006
End of the Spear Movie Review
I went to see End of the Spear on Thursday afternoon. I'd been wanting to see it because it's based on the tragic, yet beautiful story, of five missionary men who gave their lives to reach the Auca (or Waodani), an Ecuadorian Indian tribe, with the Gospel. Multiple family members of the men ended up living with the tribe, with the killers of their family members; some for a few weeks, others for years (one, Rachel Saint, a sister to Nate Saint, for THIRTY years-->basically spending the rest of her life with them). By doing this, giving the ultimate gift of forgiveness, they became an integral part of the redemption of the Auca, most importantly saving souls, but also keeping them from becoming extinct.
I have to say I was pretty upset when I saw the reviews of this movie. It just seemed it was being whole-heartedly condemned, not because it was a poorly made film, but because it was a "Christian" movie. The other part that really bothered me was the choice of the lead character in the movie; a man who has used his prestige as an actor to promote the homosexual lifestyle at every opportunity, especially to young people. This bothered me, not so much because he is taken up with sin and has no remorse or desire to leave it (because, after all, we are called to love one another, i.e. ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’). It concerned me because I felt the controversy this choice stirred up would end up detracting from the story. We so need to hear the story of these men’s lives and deaths, and how this led to the redemption of an entire people, in these days of violence, selfishness, lust and fear. Ironically, the Waodani didn’t want to have this story be put into a movie format, because they didn’t want to promote themselves. However, after hearing of Columbine and the way so many of America’s young people are losing their lives to violence, they decided they needed to let the movie be made, as a way of ministering to the people of America. Thus their story came full circle!
Now, having seen the movie, I came away feeling thankful the story is being told, but also disappointed. It really wasn’t as well made as I hoped it would be, mainly due to the dramatic changes made by the filmmakers. The story is such a great story as it is, so there was no need to add drama to it, especially since it lent a sense of unreality to an otherwise real story. There is a highly dramatized scene at the end of the movie between “Steve Saint” and “Mincayani” which was particularly difficult to believe, especially knowing the truth of their relationship.
For the most part, it was beautifully filmed, but the sound track was a little distracting, in particular when it was trying to convey a sense of tension (the native singing & beating drums were a little patronizing to the story and the Waodani, I felt). I didn’t feel Chad Allen made a very convincing Nate or Steve Saint, despite a good effort. It was just too hard not to see him for what he is, a homosexual activist trying to play the part of a good man who gave up all he was for Christ’s sake. Finally, I wish they’d done a better job of showing the interactions of Elizabeth Elliott and Rachel Saint with the Aucas, especially in their attempts to convey the Gospel.
Probably the most moving part of the movie, but the most difficult to watch, (& I shouldn’t be spoiling anything here because it is well known these men were martyred) was when the missionaries were killed by the Aucas. If I were worried about what people thought of me, I would have been really embarrassed because I couldn’t help crying out in grief as I watched this. It was almost too much, knowing this had truly happened; it physically caused my heart to ache.
I can’t recommend this movie whole-heartedly, simply because of the untruths in it. As I said before, it is a powerful story, in it’s simplicity. and there was no need to detract from it by adding incidents that didn’t happen, just for dramatic effect. I CAN recommend the documentary film, “Beyond the Gates of Splendor” by the same director. This is an excellent retelling of the story from the mouths of the persons involved, including the killers of the missionaries; Mincayani being one of them. It is a simple, but moving and beautiful documentary; well worth seeing!
I have to say I was pretty upset when I saw the reviews of this movie. It just seemed it was being whole-heartedly condemned, not because it was a poorly made film, but because it was a "Christian" movie. The other part that really bothered me was the choice of the lead character in the movie; a man who has used his prestige as an actor to promote the homosexual lifestyle at every opportunity, especially to young people. This bothered me, not so much because he is taken up with sin and has no remorse or desire to leave it (because, after all, we are called to love one another, i.e. ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’). It concerned me because I felt the controversy this choice stirred up would end up detracting from the story. We so need to hear the story of these men’s lives and deaths, and how this led to the redemption of an entire people, in these days of violence, selfishness, lust and fear. Ironically, the Waodani didn’t want to have this story be put into a movie format, because they didn’t want to promote themselves. However, after hearing of Columbine and the way so many of America’s young people are losing their lives to violence, they decided they needed to let the movie be made, as a way of ministering to the people of America. Thus their story came full circle!
Now, having seen the movie, I came away feeling thankful the story is being told, but also disappointed. It really wasn’t as well made as I hoped it would be, mainly due to the dramatic changes made by the filmmakers. The story is such a great story as it is, so there was no need to add drama to it, especially since it lent a sense of unreality to an otherwise real story. There is a highly dramatized scene at the end of the movie between “Steve Saint” and “Mincayani” which was particularly difficult to believe, especially knowing the truth of their relationship.
For the most part, it was beautifully filmed, but the sound track was a little distracting, in particular when it was trying to convey a sense of tension (the native singing & beating drums were a little patronizing to the story and the Waodani, I felt). I didn’t feel Chad Allen made a very convincing Nate or Steve Saint, despite a good effort. It was just too hard not to see him for what he is, a homosexual activist trying to play the part of a good man who gave up all he was for Christ’s sake. Finally, I wish they’d done a better job of showing the interactions of Elizabeth Elliott and Rachel Saint with the Aucas, especially in their attempts to convey the Gospel.
Probably the most moving part of the movie, but the most difficult to watch, (& I shouldn’t be spoiling anything here because it is well known these men were martyred) was when the missionaries were killed by the Aucas. If I were worried about what people thought of me, I would have been really embarrassed because I couldn’t help crying out in grief as I watched this. It was almost too much, knowing this had truly happened; it physically caused my heart to ache.
I can’t recommend this movie whole-heartedly, simply because of the untruths in it. As I said before, it is a powerful story, in it’s simplicity. and there was no need to detract from it by adding incidents that didn’t happen, just for dramatic effect. I CAN recommend the documentary film, “Beyond the Gates of Splendor” by the same director. This is an excellent retelling of the story from the mouths of the persons involved, including the killers of the missionaries; Mincayani being one of them. It is a simple, but moving and beautiful documentary; well worth seeing!
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