More...Snapshots of Life

Three snapshots of life in Richmond. The first is of the state capital in Richmond, which was being worked on the whole time we where there. This capital building is home to the oldest legislative body in the United States. Please do not miss the phrase carved into this capital building when it was built in 1788. The second picture is from our favorite spot on the James River, a place called Pony Pasture. Sheri and the kids used to spend afternoons climbing on the rocks; you can just make them out in the distance. The third is a picture of the monument of Stonewall Jackson on the famous Monument Avenue. Monument Avenue is home to many famous and beautiful monuments commemorating Virginia's rich history.

I believe appreciation for a place comes after one leaves and then reflects back on that place. Appreciation, to me, comes after the experience is over. What is left is based on whether that experience is predominately positive or negative after proper reflection. I believe it is safe to say that our experience in Richmond was a wonderful and a positive experience! Enjoy the pictures!

The Great Quotes Collection

Here is another one of my quotes. What does the picture have to do with my quote?

Water that is stagnant breeds disease; those unwilling to change to become better become like water that is stagnant.

Leadership leads to ...humility?

The Trinity Forum is a wonderful resource for some serious reading. I just recently read an article by Peter Edman on leadership and humility. He quotes Michael Crichton (I have no idea where he stands spiritually, but I have enjoyed a few of his books.), of all people, on this idea of managing complex systems...like our lives.

Crichton arrives at an interesting place; click HERE if you would like to discover his destination. I recommend reading the entire article, but I would read it slowly and read it twice. There is a lot to digest; if you read it too fast you just might think there is nothing there, and miss everything. Blessings!

Some Alarming Educational Statistics

I was doing some analysis of educational data this weekend and came across some alarming statistics for those of us in the United States. This year's international literacy results are very concerning. Here are some statistics to ponder:

Math Literacy

International Average: 500

Canada 532
Mexico 385
U.K. 508
Korea 542
France 511
U.S. 483

Problem Solving Literacy

International Average: 500

Canada 529
Mexico 384
U.K. 510
Korea 550
France 519
U.S. 477

Science Literacy

International Average: 500

Canada 519
Mexico 405
U.K. 491
Korea 538
France 511
U.S. 518

Reading Literacy

International Average: 494

Canada 528
Mexico 400
U.K. 507
Korea 534
France 496
U.S. 495

Why do these scores concern me? Well, for one, our scores have not changed much. Two, Our math and problem solving scores are very low. Over all the U.S. ranks 24th out of 29 countries on this scale, and our math and problem solving scores are some of the lowest.

Why do these two especially bother me? First, it is these two scores that really tell us how well we do in moving students past the bottom rung of thought. Memorization is the lowest form of thought and must be mastered to move up into the higher categories of analysis, synthesis, judgement, application and discovery. To do well on math and problem solving, students must be dwelling in these higher categories. Low scores on these two literacy test tell us that the we are still stuck in the lower areas of thought.

An deep examination of SAT scores will tell the same story. Initially, we look as if we are making progress as math SAT scores have risen from an average score of 499 in 1991 to an average score of 518 in 2006. But, if we dig deeper and look at the % of mastery we find that in 1992 43% had a basic mastery while 0% had what could be considered an advanced mastery. In 2007 we find that the basic has increased to the range of almost 70% while the advanced has a mere 3-8%.

Huntsville is certainly the exception as there are many more math and science people here than any other place I have ever been. I have met so many that it has caused me some false jubilation regarding our country's response to the math and science problem of the 1970's. But, today's numbers tell a different story. They tell a story of an educational system in need of answers.

I believe part of the problem is developmental. When I was in school there was a buzz about our failures in math and science...and what the country was going to do. Well, the country did what it is good at doing...it reacted. Schools started pushing kids into math and science classes for which they were ill prepared and that is a huge mistake. Why? math, like no other discipline, is abstract in nature, especially when you get to upper courses. There is no "getting" Algebra; you must be taught and learn Algebra like everyone else. But...here is where it gets tricky. If you are not ready for it, developmentally, you might do fairly well and get your B, but you will start the cruel math cycle of being a year behind in math for the rest of your academic life. We have all met that bright person who is bright in everything, but "don't ask him to do math." I view this as an American circumstance. In my travels to other countries, I have met bright people and they are always bright in math as well as other areas. Only here will you find so many people who "can not do math."

So, what are we Christians to do with these numbers? My answer is simple...build more Christian schools! Christian schools and most private schools do better, across the board, on all of these numbers for several simple reasons. First, class size matters and when teacher ratios are down more higher level thinking occurs. Two, morality matters, as well. To analyze, synthesize, evaluate, apply and create requires responsibility, character, perseverance, work ethic, and more. None of those traits fully develop unless a school's educational fabric has moral fiber woven all through out it. Three, quality Christian schools understand the developmental aspects of education, and they will be able to structure their academic program developmentally because of they are sized to do so. Christian schools, even larger ones, are structured for relationships and discipleship, and this puts the Christian school in an excellent position to address the developmental aspects of education. And, finally, Christian schools have something no one else has...the Truth!

At Westminster Christian Academy, our standard is and always will be Christ. He is our reason, and why we do what we do. Through Him we will be excellent in all things!

Change...is good!

Okay! I will! I could not sleep one night so ...I made some changes. Hopefully, you will find the place a bit more user friendly. I have consolidated some information, added other information and re-organized the side bars as they were getting a wee bit out of control. Thanks, again to all who stop by for an occasion visit. May we bring glory to God in all that we do!

The Great Quotes Collection

Another quote to motivate your prayer life!

"Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God." Martin Luther

In Memory of Maria Sue Chapman

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08 At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

Sometimes it is really hard to understand God; just because we do not understand Him does not mean He does not understand us and love us more than we can ever imagine. Join me in lifting up the entire Chapman family in prayer! May God be glorified!

It is Graduation Time Again!

Friday, May 23rd at 7:00pm Westminster Christian Academy will graduate another senior class. Dr. T. David Gordon will be the commencement speaker. Dr. Gordon is a professor of Religion and Greek at Grove City College. Dr. Gordon has written many articles and reviews for many prominent academic journals and magazines. Dr. Gordon's notes on John's gospel appear in the New Geneva Study Bible and the Reformation Study Bible. Dr. Gordon is a friend of the school and of the church. It is a honor to have him as our speaker this year.

As for the senior class, they are a special group to me. They have been an inspiration to me and to the school. They set the tone early this year with their commitment to their Savior and to each other. They have been the "key" to the school. I shall never forget them. On Friday night we will celebrate the end of one season of their lives, and the beginning of another, one full of wonder and promise. Congratulations to the class of 2008!

The Great Quotes Collection

Here is another great quote! I wonder if Moses considered the same question?

Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.
A.W. Tozer

"Christian" What?

I love to read. I feel, as an educator, that reading is an important part of my job. Recently, in my reading, I have begun to pick up on the word “intellectual” and its use in reference to Christians who want other Christians to engage the mind and not just the heart. Articles with interesting titles like “The Vocation of a Christian Intellectual” or “Can an Intellectual be a Christian” are just a few examples of this. Why do I have an issue with the use of the term “intellectual,” especially in conjunction with the term “Christian?” . Let me explain.

Bertrand Russell, an atheist, once replied to the term:

“I think an intellectual may be defined as a person who pretends to have more intellect than he has, and I hope that this definition does not fit me.”

When looking at the past semantics of the word, we find a history rooted in the secular.

The word ‘intellectual” in the 17th century was employed primarily as a noun in reference to a person that holds that all knowledge is derived from pure reason. You can now see one of my reasons for concern as this term begins to appear in association with the term “Christian.” Francis Bacon wrote, in Advancement of Learning, of intellectualists as abstract metaphysicians. David Hume wrote that “the eighteenth-century intellectuals, took Reason for their guide of the whole nature of man.” As a noun, the term barely appeared at all in nineteenth-century dictionaries. The twentieth-century use has a direct link to those bitterly opposed to established social institutions. The term in America appeared first with a direct link to the political and social movements of liberalism. As it appeared and stayed in America, it was linked philosophically with pragmatism and other experimental undertakings in education and social morality.

As you can see, the term has a history that is anything but Christian. As a matter of fact, it is the bi-polar opposite of all things that are Christian. While all these things are issues within themselves, I really have no objection with the use of the word in Christian circumstances…as long as it is used according to its correct definition. My issue here goes beyond the word’s past or the word’s definition, but instead, it is with the word’s placement in the sentence structure. It seems rather vogue right now to use the term “Christian” as an adjective that modifies all sorts of nouns, and this is another instance of that trend.

As a Christian, I believe the term “Christian” is who I am, first and foremost, and all other characteristics that define me are modifiers of who I am in Christ. If I am an intellectual, and I am not claiming to be one, than I am an intellectual Christian, and not an intellectual who is Christian. When Christ becomes the modifier of who we are we run the real risk of division in the ranks of Christians for one simple reason: we base who we are not in Christ but in who we are in the world before Christ or without Christ. I can be an intellectual without Christ, but I can not be a Christian without the Lord Jesus who saves me.

I have been learning some lessons, as of late, from my pastor's sermons (Come to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, AL if you get the chance to hear the sermons of Dr. Wingard; you will not be sorry!). I have become convinced that I must be a Believer in Jesus Christ first, and everything else modifies who I am in Christ. When I use Christ as an adjective to describe who I am, I believe, as a Christian, that I am effectively sitting in a seat reserved only for Him. I truly believe, with all of my heart, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me! What do you really believe with all of your heart?

Another Book!

I just finished this book. It is the story of how the reformation changed a nation and moved it forward into a new season that impacted the world. If you read the book, and I do recommend that you do, you will discover the prominence of education in the fabric of the country. The education of its people, especially its leadership, was one of the themes that the book followed from beginning to end. There is a lesson here for those of us in education. Happy reading!

The Great Quotes Collection

I just can not get enough of C.S. Lewis. This quote captures some of my reasons for being in Christian education. Two of my most important reasons are my children. Read and enjoy!

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.
C.S. Lewis

What ever happened to honor and integrity?

As I watch our future "leaders" debate and jostle for position in the next election, there are two words that never come into any conversation: honor and integrity. What has happened to these two elements in today's society?

First, honor is defined as "the esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; reverence; veneration." The Bible addresses honor in all venues whether it be family, church, in submission to rulers, the social realm or the body of Christ. The definition suggests that if something or someone is due honor then it or they are due honor regardless of opinion or external influence. In today's self-centered world, honor, or the giving of it, is not intrinsically rewarding to the person giving honor so, naturally, it decreases in value, eventually disappearing to the point of extinction. And, that is our world today.

Integrity, on the other hand, is defined as "the quality or state of being of sound moral principle uprightness ,honesty, and sincerity." Interestingly, there is no direct Greek word translation for integrity in the Bible. The closest Greek word is the one which translates to perfect or complete. Some suggest that to have integrity one must be complete and whole, and in order to do this, one must be in Christ.

The absence of the two words in the world makes sense from a Christian perspective because, according to our study of the scriptures, to receive honor one must be be of sound moral principle...perfect and complete. Again, it makes sense to me why the two words have disappeared from our political realm, but in another, it is alarming when one comes to the realization that our leaders do not even try to reach these standards anymore, and we, who elect them, do not even work to hold them to these standards.

Honor and integrity are missing from today's society and that fits right in line with scripture, but what does not fit is why these two words are missing from today's Christian church? An article I read recently stated that "as the church we have abandoned the idea of perfection, preferring instead to dwell on God’s acceptance of our failures, rather than on His ability to deliver us from them. This attitude works contrary to the notion of deliverance which is obtained through faith in the name of Christ Jesus."

Now, I do not believe you can achieve perfection this side of heaven, but that should not stop us from pursuing it with all that we have. The pursuit of perfection is a spiritual act of honor and integrity because we are called to be imitators of Christ, and we are called to the obedience of His Word. There are too many of us who put our needs and opinions before those of our Savior, and by doing this we become disqualified for the traits of honor and integrity. Instead, we are content to continue to dwell in our sin day in and day out. We prefer to dwell "on God's acceptance of our failures" instead of His holy power to help us overcome them. Honor and integrity are two traits that belong to the Christian! May we claim them as ours in Christ for His great glory!

Happy Mother's Day

Where would we be without our mothers? Join me in wishing all mothers and grandmothers a very Happy Mothers Day! Hey Mom! Happy Mothers Day!

Empiricism and the Christian

What you see is not always what you get or so the saying goes. These lines appear to be all different in length, but in reality, they are all the same size. Some days you can not even trust your eyes; they betray you too. Of all the senses, the eyes ought to be the ones to trust, but to no avail, they too fail us... eventually.

When we examine today's practices and theories we find a heavy dose of empiricism, and why not? After all, our country was founded on the notions of one of the first classical British empiricists, John Locke. The empiricists believed that all knowledge derived from experience, and they were openly hostile toward rationalistic metaphysics and it use of speculation and epistemology grounded in innate ideas. Locke posited the idea that the mind at birth was "tabula rasa" or a blank slate. Once born this blank slate was informed by sense experience and acts of reflection. We, as Christians, need not go any further until we resolve whether Locke was right or wrong. To often we steam roll ahead not worrying about the right or wrong of an idea. We must learn to think and debate ideas with the hope of finding God's truth and exposing it to a watching world.

Knowledge without innate ideas is not knowledge at all. Innate ideas are what breeds consciousness and morality. One of the best examples of an innate idea is the belief in God. It would seem to me (and my feeble mind) that if our mind was tabula rasa then there would never be a belief in God or even the invention of the concept of God. God is so 180 degrees different than man that the concept could not have come out of a mind that was purely tabula rasa. Why get on this pedestal tonight?

For one reason: most today believe in empiricism and believe if they say it enough, play it enough and deny it enough it eventually becomes true. They believe that multiple experiences eventually supplant truth. And here is the sad reality, we Christians are empiricists too. We believe that experience is king; we live as if it rules the day. Why is this so terrible? It is again our attempt to be God. William James maintained that "the empirically observed directly apprehended universe, requires no extraneous trans-empirical connective support," and of course by this statement he meant to rule out the perception that there can be any value added by seeking supernatural explanations for natural phenomena. That rules out all references to a Holy God. The idea that all knowledge is derived through the senses is an issue for the Christian. Yes, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us, but He does not dwell in contradiction to His word. He dwells inside of us united with His word.

As I go forward, I do so studying His word with the hope that I can overcome my empiricist ways by walking a more consistent walk united with my Lord through His perfect Word.

The Great Quotes Collection

A great quote to explain why I am in Christian education! Enjoy!

One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C.S. Lewis

The Goal of Christian Community

One of the best things about being a Christian should be the sense of community we have with each other, but sadly, it is often one of the missing elements of the Christian walk. At WCA, our goal is community! We must have it because it is that important.

Community is important to the Christian school for many reasons. As we teach our students, we teach them about life, and life is about many differing relationships existing in love and unity. J.I. Packer, in his book, Knowing Man, makes a good case for community being an "aspect of the divine calling." He reminds us of the plural pronouns in Genesis 1:26 when God decides to make "man in our image." Packer states that it is "not the 'us' of royalty or authorship, but instead, it is the 'us' of plurality." Packer writes that it seems right to say that "the [community], which is essential to our well-being as persons is actually a further item in the image of God which we are called to reflect and embody in our life activities."

Sadly, we often allow "things" to get in the way of our Christian community. Why? If you are like me, control is one of the major detriments to community. Every one wants to be in control, even those who will not admit it, and they want to be in control because they think they are right. We would rather be right then be united; we would rather be right than submit to authority. We would even rather be right than have peace because deep down...we still have that fundamental flaw...we want to be like God.

Another "thing" that gets in our way is pride. It is the reason we want to be in control, and, often, it is the reason we are not in control. Pride rules us and can often overwhelm us if we are not careful. Pride is the reason we yell at our spouse, we lose our temper in traffic, and we mumble under our breath at our incompetent co-worker or even worse, our incompetent supervisor. Why? Well, of course we can do a better job in a better way with better results.

When these "things" rule our lives Christ does not, and community will never result. In the coming year, Westminster Christian Academy and Westminster Presbyterian Church will both be tested in the area of community as we become the guests of some amazing churches. What a blessing it has been to experience Christian community from these churches. What a testimony they have been to us! May are goal this year and always be community that is rooted in Christ!

Snapshots of Life... in Monroe Bridge, MA

Here are three snapshots of my life in Monroe Bridge. The first two are of the old James Ramage Paper Mill. Here is where my father worked for many years. It was the town as long as it was alive and active. In the first picture, the mill hugs the Deerfield River, as water was its blood.

I remember, as a child, when the green paint was applied to those now old walls in the second picture; also, you get a peak of Monroe's bridge. It was said that the name, Monroe Bridge, came from the delivery of mail in the past. The mail came in on the train which ran on the track on the other side of the bridge; the stop was originally called Monroe's bridge. Over the years, you guessed it, it came to be known as Monroe Bridge. To still find that green paint when the mill has been silent for so long ...is comforting in some odd way.

The third picture is of Harriman Station. This is the station that I worked out of during my summers in college. The New England Power Company employed many of us college kids as summer help. We reported to this station in Readsboro, Vermont, just across the border of Massachusetts. It was here where I was first exposed to hard labor, a full day's work and the NEPC legend, Fred Look. Someday I will share my interactions with the legendary Fred Look.

Memories come flying back whenever I stumble on old pictures of the past. Today, I share some of these with all of you. Enjoy!

Westminster Baseball

Today our varsity baseball team finished their season not the way they intended. WCA lost the third game of a three game series, 8-2, but along the way we made some people nervous. We played hard and fought long, and did it all for the glory of God. Each coach and player should feel no shame in walking off that field because they played the game the way it should have been played. Yes, we made some errors, yes, we walked some, yes, we got excited at times and yes we lost a game we maybe should have won, but we did it all the right way, and that is the way to walk off the field. I am so proud of our team! They have had a great year!

We, at WCA, play to win but never at the high cost of our testimony, our character, or the name of our Lord. We believe in process and product; both are important in life and in sports. Some forget that how you get there is as important as getting there. When I played baseball... oh so long ago...it was very much like golf. There were unwritten rules and lines that you just did not cross. The other day I was listening to one of the local radio talking heads criticize the two college girls who helped a girl from the opposing team make it around the bases. The girl hit a home run over the fence, as she rounded first she ruptured her ACL and was unable to make it on her own. NCAA softball rules prevented any of her teammates from helping her (an issue for another time) around the bases; the first baseman and the shortstop from the opposing team helped her the rest of the way, and this guy was saying that the act was wrong. Wow!

May our school never forget that playing a sport is a divine blessings granted by a Holy God, and it is another venue to the cross. At WCA we will always play hard, play fair and play to win, but we will always play for Our King, Jesus Christ first and foremost!

The Great Quotes Collection

Here is another quote for us to ponder.

The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.

C. S. Lewis
1898-1963, British Academic, Writer, Christian Apologist

Is the educational institution you support irrigating deserts or uprooting vegetation, metaphorically speaking of course? I believe education is all about planting and sowing and not cutting and destroying. What do you think?