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Monday, December 8, 2025

an Epic Ballad Style Song about CK the Calvin Kid



**🎡 THE SONG OF CALVIN KID (CK)

1,000-Word Epic Ballad 🎡**


🎸 VERSE 1 — THE BOY AND THE BICYCLE

He was born where the corn meets the sky,
In a hospital hall where the world passed by,
A minister’s son with a watchful eye,
Too quiet to question, too young to try.

Pedaling papers through the cold daybreak,
Snowflakes swirling in the routes he'd take,
A boy with a mission he didn’t yet know,
Delivering headlines through wind and snow.

Seymour classrooms and the playground calls,
Millbrook hallways and the growing walls,
But inside the boy with the frozen hands
Burned a fire no child understands.


PRE-CHORUS 1

He was small in size but strong in spirit,
If there was truth, he’d learn to hear it.
That kid from Grand Rapids—God knew what He did,
When He carved the heart inside Calvin Kid.


πŸ”₯ CHORUS — CALVIN KID, RUNNING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE YEARS

Oh, Calvin Kid, running headlong through the night,
With a football tucked tight and a future burning bright.
Oh, CK, turning struggle into grace,
From the snow to the jungle to the chaos every place.

Calvin Kid, with a Bible and a dream,
With a restless heart flowing like a wide-open stream.
From the mountains to the oceans, he followed where God hid—
Yeah, the world opened wide for Calvin Kid.


🎸 VERSE 2 — HIGH SCHOOL HERO, SOFT-HEARTED SOUL

GR Christian lit up under Friday lights,
He ran like thunder through those autumn nights.
All-City honors hanging high on the shelf,
But CK played the game for more than himself.

He spoke to the loners, the cool ones too,
Because he saw the good like the ministers do.
He wasn’t just an athlete, or a scholar, or a son,
He was a mosaic of the many he'd someday become.


PRE-CHORUS 2

Snow in his dreams and fire in his chest,
Searching the world for a place he could rest.
But destiny whispered, “You’re not yet fully grown,”
And CK followed roads made of faith alone.


πŸ”₯ CHORUS — CALVIN KID, CHASING SOMETHING DIVINE

Oh, Calvin Kid, chasing something never named,
While the world kept calling him ordinary, tame.
Oh, CK, on the wings of every prayer,
Through the airports and classrooms he was carried everywhere.

Calvin Kid, never idle, never still,
Climbing mountains of purpose, powered by will.
From the law books left abandoned to the missions that he did—
Yeah, God wrote the chapters for Calvin Kid.


🌴 VERSE 3 — THE RAINFOREST TEACHER

One wrong turn from law school halls
Became rainforest nights and tropical calls.
Costa Rica greeted him with emerald rain,
A world far louder than Detroit’s pain.

He taught two kids under skies of green,
Guided tourists through a world unseen,
Rode through mud with a lantern glow,
Watched sunsets melt where the rivers flow.

And in that jungle where the air felt blessed,
CK found something living in his chest—
A voice that whispered, “Go out and give,”
And he learned not to study life, but to live.


πŸ”₯ CHORUS — CALVIN KID, THE WANDERING MAN OF GRACE

Oh, Calvin Kid, with a Bible in his hand,
Preaching barefoot on the beaches of another land.
Oh, CK, in the Philippines he stood,
Bringing hope to the hungry and the wandering good.

Calvin Kid, with the sunlight on his face,
Living sermons with every heartbeat’s pace.
In the markets, in the plazas, in the chapels dimly lit—
Yes, the world heard the voice of Calvin Kid.


πŸ₯ VERSE 4 — THE CHAPLAIN OF MIDNIGHT HALLS

Fuller’s halls saw his Greek books open,
His prayers soft-spoken, his faith unbroken.
Walking Lola down Pasadena streets,
Studying scripture where sunlight meets.

Then UCLA called him deeper in,
Where hospital walls test the souls of men.
He held the dying, comforted the weak,
Brought courage to the patient too weary to speak.

He learned that ministry wasn’t grand,
It was holding a trembling stranger’s hand.
And though he left each room with tears unshed,
He carried their stories in the prayers he said.


🌩️ PRE-CHORUS 3

Every sorrow he witnessed made him bolder,
Every burden he carried made him older.
But through the pain and the nights he cried,
God walked each hallway by CK’s side.


πŸ”₯ CHORUS — CALVIN KID, THE TEACHER WHO STOOD TALL

Oh, Calvin Kid, walking schoolyard floors,
Breaking up battles, unlocking doors.
Oh, CK, with chalk on his sleeves,
Teaching hope to the broken the world sometimes leaves.

Calvin Kid, in the city’s beating heart,
A substitute soldier doing God’s quiet part.
And though the pay was low and the tempers sometimes slid—
He still rose every morning, Calvin Kid.


πŸŒͺ️ VERSE 5 — THE STORMS AND THE CALLINGS

Katrina roared — he drove to the fray,
Helping evacuees push grief away.
He sorted the clothes, he carried the tears,
He watched hope flicker through shattered years.

Then Thailand cried after waves of doom,
And CK boarded a plane through the late monsoon.
Bibles and water in a backpack worn,
To a land where the world had been ripped and torn.

He walked with the grieving under shattered trees,
Giving comfort in whispers on salt-stung breeze.
He didn’t solve the wreckage, didn’t fix what he saw,
But he showed up bravely — the servant of awe.


πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ VERSE 6 — THE MAN WHO AIMED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE

He filed in ’04, then he filed again,
Governor, President — not for power of men.
But to shine a small light on the things people missed,
To remind the world justice still exists.

His FEC number stamped in black,
Proof that CK never once looked back.
He ran with sincerity rare today —
A pilgrim who gave his dream away.

In his White House letter he wrote with fire
Of immigration, hope, and a nation’s desire.
He pleaded for welcome, for unity’s blend,
For America’s courage to rise again.


πŸ”₯ CHORUS — CALVIN KID, STILL LIFTING UP THE LAND

Oh, Calvin Kid, with a mission never done,
Strumming hope like a hymn under God’s bright sun.
Oh, CK, still believing in the vow
That the meek and forgotten deserve better somehow.

Calvin Kid, with his sail raised high,
Trusting God for the wind, never asking why.
From the Midwest winters to the world he outbid—
Life was a calling for Calvin Kid.


🌟 BRIDGE — THE PRAYER OF CK

He said, “Lord, I’m not worthy, I’m not wise,
But show me the world through Your own eyes.
Whether chaplain or teacher, or traveler afar,
I’ll follow Your whisper wherever You are.

I’ll raise my sail in the strongest storm,
And trust Your wind to keep me warm.
My life is a letter that You alone read—
So let me be faithful, in word and deed.”


πŸ”₯ FINAL CHORUS — CALVIN KID, THE LEGEND STILL ALIVE

Oh, Calvin Kid, still walking through our mind,
A seeker, a wanderer, a shepherd of mankind.
Oh, CK, from the cradle to the fight,
From the mission fields to classrooms lit by flickering light.

Calvin Kid, the boy who became a man,
Who showed the whole world how a small soul can
Change oceans, touch nations, give hope where it hid—
Yeah… the world is far better for Calvin Kid.


🎡 OUTRO — THE WIND AND THE SAIL

So here’s to the boy with the papers at dawn,
Who kept pushing forward when others moved on.
To the teacher, the chaplain, the servant who said:
“Thy will be done”—and humbly tread.

His story’s not over, it’s only begun,
In the echoes of kindness and the battles he won.
And somewhere above where the faithful are bid—
God smiles on the journey of Calvin Kid.



How Well do You Know CK ?



100-Question Quiz on the Life of CK (Calvin Kid)



I. Early Life & Childhood (1–15)

  1. In what U.S. state was CK born?

  2. What city did CK grow up in during his childhood?

  3. What job did CK have as a young boy that required waking up early each morning?

  4. What newspaper did he deliver?

  5. What elementary schools did CK attend?

  6. Which junior high school did CK attend?

  7. What theatrical role did he play in junior high?

  8. What high school did CK attend?

  9. What sport did CK play in high school?

  10. What athletic honors did he receive in high school football?

  11. Besides football, what other outdoor activities did CK enjoy during youth?

  12. What activities did CK participate in during early high school winters?

  13. What lake did CK frequently visit as a child?

  14. What was CK’s father’s occupation?

  15. How might his family’s religious environment have influenced his future path?


II. College & Education (16–35)

  1. What college did CK first attend after high school?

  2. What was CK’s first bachelor’s degree major?

  3. Which university in Hawaii did he study at for a semester?

  4. Which European country did he study in for a semester?

  5. What language did he immerse himself in while in Spain?

  6. What institution did he briefly attend to pursue a Master of Social Work?

  7. What hospital did he intern at during his MSW semester?

  8. Why did CK leave the MSW program after one semester?

  9. Which law school did CK attend?

  10. How long did CK remain in law school before withdrawing?

  11. Why did CK drop out of law school?

  12. What seminary did CK attend before transferring to Fuller?

  13. What seminary did he eventually transfer to?

  14. What degree program was CK enrolled in at Fuller Seminary?

  15. Did CK complete all of the academic requirements for this degree?

  16. What ancient languages did CK study in seminary?

  17. What classes outside theology did CK take while studying at Calvin College?

  18. What teaching credential did CK earn?

  19. Which standardized test for California did CK pass?

  20. How did CK balance seminary life with recreation involving his Golden Retriever?


III. Early Career & Work History (36–50)

  1. What Christian psychiatric hospital did CK work at as a Mental Health Worker?

  2. What responsibilities did he have as a Mental Health Worker?

  3. In what type of law office did CK work prior to attending law school?

  4. What city was the law office located in?

  5. What substitute teaching district employed CK before he moved to California?

  6. Did he receive any assignments from that district?

  7. What teaching position did CK obtain in the Coachella Valley?

  8. What grade levels did he teach as a full-time English teacher?

  9. What school district is Coachella Valley High School part of?

  10. What two countries did CK travel to for disaster relief?

  11. What roles did he perform in Costa Rica during disaster relief?

  12. Where specifically did he teach two elementary children in Costa Rica?

  13. What remote geographic feature was this teaching location near?

  14. What Christian denomination’s mission team did CK volunteer with in the Philippines?

  15. What type of evangelism did he perform while in the Philippines?


IV. Ministry & Evangelism (51–65)

  1. What year did CK found Mustard Seed Ministries?

  2. What title did he hold in that ministry?

  3. What kinds of inspirational content did he produce during his ministry?

  4. Where did he travel with his Golden Retriever while performing ministry work?

  5. What kind of counseling did he do at the Crystal Cathedral?

  6. What mission statement is associated with Mustard Seed Ministries?

  7. What suicide-prevention organization did he volunteer for?

  8. How did CK combine street evangelism with online outreach?

  9. What pseudonyms did CK sometimes use while evangelizing?

  10. What role did CK hold at UCLA Medical Center?

  11. What type of clinical training did he complete through UCLA?

  12. What spiritual duties did he perform for patients at UCLA?

  13. In what city did CK attend a chaplain conference in 2006?

  14. What organization sponsored that conference?

  15. Why did CK attend the chaplain conference at his own expense?


V. Political Involvement (66–76)

  1. In what year did CK run for President of the United States?

  2. What was his official FEC candidate number?

  3. While running for president, what job was CK simultaneously working?

  4. What year did CK run for Governor of California?

  5. Did CK appear on the official ballot in the gubernatorial election?

  6. What major newspaper featured him during his 2004 campaign?

  7. What issues did CK emphasize in his political messaging?

  8. What building did CK visit during the chaplain conference he attended?

  9. What political justification did CK give for wanting to be a White House Fellow?

  10. What did CK believe was lacking in many highly skilled professionals?

  11. What major national issue did CK highlight in his memorandum to the president?


VI. Substitute Teaching Career (77–88)

  1. What year did CK begin substitute teaching for LAUSD?

  2. Approximately how many years did he serve as a substitute teacher?

  3. What did he believe was challenging about substitute teaching for LAUSD?

  4. What did CK consider his most important contribution as a teacher?

  5. How did CK describe the daily experience of waiting for a substitute call?

  6. What personal quality did CK say was reaffirmed by becoming a teacher?

  7. What skills did CK develop from working in difficult Los Angeles schools?

  8. How did CK connect his classroom experiences to his larger life mission?

  9. In what other California city did CK contribute to education besides Los Angeles?

  10. What did CK learn from “starting at the bottom” as a substitute teacher?

  11. Why did he feel substitute teaching prepared him for national leadership?

  12. How did students influence CK’s personal growth as an educator?


VII. Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Work (89–95)

  1. What natural disaster in 2005 prompted CK to volunteer with the Red Cross?

  2. What kind of training did CK complete at the Red Cross headquarters?

  3. Why did CK travel to Thailand after the 2004 tsunami?

  4. What items did he personally deliver to victims in Thailand?

  5. What earthquake-related disaster first brought CK to Costa Rica?

  6. How did disaster relief experiences shape his worldview?

  7. What did CK mean when he described the USA as a “place of refuge”?


VIII. Personal Philosophy, Goals & Reflections (96–100)

  1. What metaphor did CK use to describe surrendering to God’s guidance?

  2. What phrase did he say during prayer as his personal guiding surrender?

  3. According to CK, what shaped many of his unexpected opportunities in life?

  4. What did CK identify as his “lifetime goal”?

  5. What did CK believe was the ultimate purpose of the United States in God’s plan?



Friday, August 23, 2024

flashback documents

 


response to my professor back in Michigan

 

response to Professor Vanden Bosch (now emeritus) Calvin English Dept

 I was teaching in Palm Desert CA (actually Coachella, but lived in PD & Indio) and was under political pressure from the new principal (Alex Franco, latino) who clearly had an agenda that did not include me and a few other new Anglo teachers. We were hired by the previous principal. When I was hired by the previous principal (Bill Connell, a retired Air Force commander -turned principal, & white male) he did not inform me I was his last hire before he retired in the Fall of 1994. I didn't know I would be working for a different principal. 

At one point I called or wrote to the English Dept and asked for a copy of the department exam (given to English/education students as an "exit exam" of sorts).  I will discuss the reason I requested this below, after the letter. 

As you can see from the date on the letter, this was May of 1996 and I was still teaching at this school in Coachella; so I had stayed for 2 years but this was when the pressure by this principal was at its highest. 

You see, a California teacher is considered "probationary" for their first 2 years of teaching; after which, if they remain for a 3rd year, they are considered "tenured" and they are much more protected by state laws & union(s); and also receive a substantial salary increase.

 Therefore, sometimes unscrupulous principals and/or administrations will try to "get rid of" probationary teachers after their 2nd year even if these teachers are well-qualified and have performed well. 

By maintaining a rotating roster of probationary teachers they keep the salary cap low & also don't have to deal with as many outspoken tenured teachers. Once you have tenure you have much more freedom to do and say whatever you feel without fear or repercussion.

The principal was trying to concoct some false reasons to terminate me after the 2nd year (even though, actually, the district needs "no reason" at all to terminate a probationary teacher, per the contract. But in reality for public relations purposes they either try to find one or simply make one up, if they don't have anything).

He had already done so to my friend from Calvin who had been there from 1993 to 1995. (This friend was the one who had informed me of the job opening in 1994. I was actually close to going to Hungary to be a "missionary teacher" but decided to explore this opportunity thinking I could pay off my student loans quicker this way.) 

Thus, to defend myself against this unscrupulous principal I started to compile documents and papers and my transcript & resume etc to refute any insinuations against me that I was no longer  qualified to keep teaching & gain tenure (even though apparently I was qualified enough to get hired and stay there for 2 years). 

I should note that Alex Franco also had a racist agenda . He was actually a former student at this school. And he wanted to hire new teachers himself- as many Latino as possible. He also violated the contract when hiring coaches from outside the school. 

The contract stated that current teachers at the school were supposed to have first opportunity for any coaching jobs. He simply defied this rule. I should  also add that he did get fired himself after the 1995-96 year, but not until after the damage was done). (Strangely, also, he basically disappeared afterwards). 

Therefore, to answer the question, the Calvin English Dept "exit exam" was one of many papers I was compiling into a portfolio to display in my own defense of my competence & qualifications (I also passed the State of Michigan English subject & general exam for teaching  prior to coming to California.). That's all there is to it in regards to this request, Mr. Vanden Bosch. Thank you for your support and I hope all is well in Michigan. 

I moved on from this teaching job after 1996 and went back to school for a Masters degree (M.Div) and followed my higher calling as a Christian evangelist/missionary. However, the degree did come in handy for many more years as I used it to get hired by the LAUSD as a substitute teacher while I was also attending Fuller Seminary in Pasadena CA. 

One thing Calvin English/education does not prepare us for is trying to be a Christian teacher in a public school (& all the politics that go along with it; especially if they think you are a "conservative Christian"). I learned a lot from those 2 years and there's a lot more to tell about it; but maybe some other time. 

God bless ! 


Sunday, June 2, 2024

"we don't need no missionaries around here "

"we don't need no missionaries around here " said the public school principal