Bert Ellingson:
CLASS OF 1981
Acalanes High SchoolClass of 1981
Lafayette, CA
Bert's Story
Bert is single. His schools include Acalanes High School. He later attended Whitworth University (BA Speech Communication). He works(ed) at Pool Manager, Antioch Unified School District, Fresno Pacific University.
Bert's interests include MendingTheHole.org, Young Life, Teen Challenge, Swimming, Summer and Winter Olympics, Football, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, The Oakland Raiders, Jack Nicklaus, Diana Nyad, Dara Torres. Music he likes includes K-LOVE Radio, Air 1 Radio, The City Harmonic. Books he likes include David Lynn Golemon, Reader's Digest, Star Wars Fate of the Jedi. Movies he likes include The Iron Giant, Planes, Trains & Automobiles. TV shows he likes include The Voice, The Biggest Loser, Terra Nova.
One of Bert's favorite quotes is:"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might become wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given Life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers and true needs were fulfilled.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
by an Unknown Civil War Veteran
This is displayed in the Lobby of the Shreveport, LA Veterans Hospital
- I first came across this poem when I was either in high school or college, I read it in a story in Guidepost magazine about Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran who lost both of his legs above the knee and his right forearm when a grenade exploded.
Let your light shine bright before men so that they will see your good works and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
This is my life verse because Bert, my first name means bright, and my middle name means man. Put them together and you have Bright Man. Given this, my favorite song is Shine by the Newsboys.
Another reason I like this verse is that it describes my life very well. I know that I would not have been able ...Expand for more
to do the things I have done and still do without God's help. Like the verse says, I want people to see what I do and praise God for enabling me to do it. I have lived with fibromyalgia for the past 28 years. Despite the pain and the fatigue (and sometimes depression) that comes with it, I can function pretty well. Thanks to God, I am able to hide how much pain I am in very well. Since for most of my life I have either been a student, grad student, substitute teacher, or school librarian, most of my summers have been free. To make money and stay busy, I have worked as a lifeguard/swim instructor. I am as good, if not better, shape as my fellow lifeguards/swim instructors who are in high school and college. Like I wrote earlier, I could not do this without God on my side. What an awesome God we have!
"My Llfeguard walks on water." On one of my workout shirts.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:27 (I love being God's fool.)".
More about Bert:"After looking at my facebook page, you might expect me to rip off my shirt to expose my superhero costume, not with a S shield like Superman, but a SC for Super Christian. Believe me, Super Christian, I am not. I am not up to date in my Read-Your-Bible-Through-A-Year plan. I don't make as many appearances as I would like to for my church's youth group (fortunately I have a very understanding youth minister and there is one, sometimes two other leaders to lead my 7th grade boys small discussion group.) There are still sins I struggle with. I listen to K-Love and Air 1 because some times those stations are the only things that keep me going. The way my life has gone, I sometimes wonder if God really does have plan for my life and will He let me know what it is. When I have my doubts, I try to think about this one verse and the story around it: Mark 9:24-Immediately the boy's father exclaimed "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief."
P.S. If I ever did rip off my shirt to expose my superhero costume, it would be a yellow shirt with an orange B. B for Bertman.
P.P.S. The new license plate for my car arrived so it's official that I drive the Bertmobile (My plate is BERTMBL).".
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