newnan, ga

So, we've been in Newnan for a month -- time for a bit of reflection.

The job is going well -- so well that some days I think I could do this for several more years. That's not an idea that I allow myself to entertain for too long, mainly because I know that in reality I would be miserable. But, really, this year is running so much more smoothly than last year. Not even my worst group of kids can get me down like one bad day would have last year. I also find that I don't dread going in to work in the morning like I did last year -- decent classroom management will do that for you...

Getting used to Newnan has been a little bit more uncertain. We love our apartment -- it has been nice having a place to come home to that is not a 2-hour's drive away through downtown Atlanta. The town itself is a different matter. It is difficult to know just what to make of this place and the people who live here -- lots of disaffected teenagers, etc. We've found a congregation with which to worship and some wonderful people there. We've also begun to find decent restaurants/coffee shops to hang out at.

All in all, I'm looking forward to autumn and to cooler days -- and to visits from family and friends over the next couple of months. My good friend, Mark, was down this weekend -- we got to go hiking in Warm Springs even though it was probably too warm to do so. Spending time with him has got me looking forward to Furman's Homecoming in late October and to reconnecting with our Greenville friends.

Book News:

The setup of the Latin textbook that I use has caused me to delve more deeply into Roman social history and physical infrastructure (roads, aqueducts, gardens, etc.). Some things on my plate right now:

The Roman Family by Suzanne Dixon

Slavery and Society at Rome by Keith Bradley

Greek and Roman Slavery by Thomas Wiedemann

The Roads of the Romans by Staccioli

I do feel now that I have a more solid grasp on some issues relating to the family that will help me approach Paul's letters -- especially the moral codes in Eph. and Col. more knowledgeably (I plan to read Wayne Meek's The First Urban Christians soon).