The Instrument of Thought

John Milton Gregory once wrote, "Language is an instrument as well as the  vehicle of thought.Words are tools under whose plastic touch the mind reduces the crude masses of its impressions into clear and valid propositions. Ideas become incarnate in words."

As we examine the questions surrounding education these days, we are reminded of the simple truths of Gregory's statement. Language is an instrument, words are tools and ideas, well, ideas are the crux of education. We learn in order to express our ideas in clear and concise ways. How we express our ideas is really dependent on how well we have mastered our use of language, specifically our use of words individually and collectively.

I learned a valuable lesson a few weeks ago as I traveled to Odessa, Ukraine about the use of language. Communication is about language, but it is also about so much more. I spoke at a conference and spoke through an interpreter. I envisioned that this would be the most difficult part of the process, but what I found was something different. Yes, not speaking the language very well certainly had its limitations, but when it came to communicating at the conference something changed. I was able to communicate in a better way. Why? After analyzing my comments over and over, I came to several realizations.

First, if you are passionate about your subject matter it enhances the communication process. Second, if you know your subject matter well it, again, enhances the communication process. Third, if you speak from the heart and less from the paper, again, it enhances the communication process. And finally, if you have a desire to learn the native language and make a sincere effort to use it when you can, it enhances the communication process.

Communication is about words and language, but it is also about so much more. Passion and knowledge are important and powerful agents of the communication process. We should never underestimate their significance and importance in the ability to communicate with those who speak our language and those who do not. Our ideas do become incarnate in our words; we must make sure we use our words to the best of our ability, and that they match our passion and our knowledge. Blessings! 

Pursuit of the Ideal

Isaiah Berlin wrote, years ago, in his essay, Pursuit of the Ideal, about the factors that, in his opinion, shaped human history. Amazingly, he wrote on only two:

"There are, in my view, two factors that, above all others, have shaped human history in this century: one is the development of the natural sciences and technology, certainly the greatest success story of our time—to this, great and mounting attention has been paid from all quarters. The other, without doubt, consists in the great ideological storms that have altered the lives of virtually all mankind: the Russian Revolution and its aftermath—totalitarian tyrannies of both right and left and the explosions of nationalism, racism, and, in places, of religious bigotry, which, interestingly enough, not one among the most perceptive social thinkers of the nineteenth century had ever predicted."

Berlin believed that these two factors spawned all other factors past and present and will spawn still more factors in the future - shaping history. What was the common theme that made these two factors foundational to him? He writes about this idea of solutions:

"What was common to all these outlooks was the belief that solutions to the central problems existed, that one could discover them, and, with sufficient selfless effort, realize them on earth. They all believed that the essence of human beings was to be able to choose how to live: societies could be transformed in the light of true ideals believed in with enough fervor and dedication."

The main issue here is that most people today believe there are solutions to central problems. Are there really solutions to central problems? Many in this country would say yes without even thinking about it, but when you think about what a solution is then the answer does not come so freely. A solution is something that eliminates the problem which existed before the solution was found. I am not so sure we solve anything in this country anymore... or solved anything in the past. We have been conditioned to believe in solutions, but are the things that we believe really solutions? Raising taxes will solve our problem or will they? War, protests, newly-elected leaders... all of these things are, in essence, plowing around the problem and not real solutions.

Do we solve any problems anymore? I have friends who have been going through a court case for the last several years. A large corporation built a large development project up the stream from their home and did not correctly grade, level and prepare the land for heavy rain. When the heavy rain came the stream filled quickly with sediment and run-off water from the development and washed out the bridge to their home and some of their land. The corporation refused to help them so they and several others took them to court. They learned their lesson over the last several years... our legal system is no longer about justice or truth; it is, instead, about winners and losers, and most of the time, those with the most money win. There are no solutions to their problem only winners and losers. This is current reality built from the reality of the past where we are all led to believe that there were real solutions to our problems. The only true solution is coming again - Jesus Christ. He will solve every issue the right way and according to his word. 


So many people laugh when they hear His name and chuckle with comments like, "religion again." But, as I get older and contemplate my life on this planet, I have come to understand that the Biblical account of life is the only account that makes any sense. Am I born just to die? Why is life structured so you work to retire when you can least enjoy it? Well, it all only makes sense if this life is just the beginning... the part of life readying us for eternity. We are not born to die; instead, we are born to live for eternity. Are you looking for solutions to your problems? If so, there is one solution that solves all of your problems, and that solutions is Jesus Christ. Blessings!
   

Happy Veterans Day!

We tend to overlook this day or comprehend it as just another day off from school or work, but it is a day we must hold in high regard. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has the following statement on their website regarding Veterans Day and ceremonial observances:

"The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.The Veterans Day National Committee also selects a number of regional sites for Veterans Day observances throughout the country. From stirring parades and ceremonies to military exhibits and tributes to distinguished veterans, these events serve as models for other communities to follow in planning their own observances."

This day is a celebration and a thank you to all who have served our country past and present. We enjoy freedoms today because of these men and women. Happy Veterans Day and thank you to all who have served and are serving. Blessings!

Tragic Consequences

It is hard to watch an institution crumble, but that is exactly what all of us have been doing these last several days. Certainly, the events transpiring at Penn State are disturbing enough, but the tragic consequences of the events themselves are almost too much to contemplate. The failure of one man was multiplied by the failure of a system run by other men. I do not fully understand or comprehend the full scope of this tragedy, but as an educator, who is in the business because of a undying love of children, my heart aches right now for these boys and their families.

The young boys involved will be forever scared and forever affected. They will never look at life in the same way, and probably will never look at most things in any of the ways most of us currently enjoy. But, there is a deeper consequence... one that goes all the way to the soul. Young men often look at their male role models with an awe reserved for only a small few: their father, their heroes and their God. These events have surely already begun to leave their mark on these boys who are now young men. They will certainly each have their own unique set of issues with which to deal, but they will also all be affected in one consistent area... that of faith. Young boys often look at their older male heroes as God-like in their early years. Their views of God and faith are often shaped by their views of their fathers and male coaches.

In Jamaica, most Christian churches are full of women and children but little or no men. Why not? I believe it is a vicious cycle repeating itself over and over. Families are broken, fathers are absent and no male role models are present so children grow up with no father, no solid male role model and no model of a Holy God who loves them. There are too many tragedies in this Penn State story to count, and I am sure more will surface over the next several weeks, but one of the tragedies that will get little or no attention is the abject failure of these men in their God-given mandate to be Godly examples to these young boys by way of love and faithfulness.

Please join me in praying for these families and, especially, for these boys/young men. My prayer is that God would visit each of them in a very special way and rekindle that flame reserved for God that others cruelly extinguished before it even had a chance to grow.

 

An "I" Culture

What are the traits of current culture? Well, our friend to the right is a large part of current culture. It is the "me" or "I" culture, is it not? In a world that seems to change by the minute, one thing has not changed and that is our selfish disposition.

Let's look at what we are dealing with in our own country. The NBA is in a battle over dividing up billions of dollars between the owners and the players and neither side understands how foolish they look to the many who are just looking for work. Our leaders continue to blame each other and refuse to accept any responsibility for anything. Which begs the question: how effective can a leader be if he or she does not understand the most basic of leadership principles... assuming leadership means also assuming the responsibilities associated with the leadership position.


As a people, we have fallen for the lie. We have bought into the fallacy that selfishness will make us happy and content when the exact opposite is true. I was trying to explain this concept to my kids on the way home from church the other day. We talked about which of these ideas, selfishness or selflessness, is best for the most people. If we are all selfish then only those of us with the most money and the most power win, but only for a short period of time. For it will not be long before someone comes along who has more money and more power than we do, but if selflessness reigns then we all have the best chance of achieving some of our dreams because we are constantly looking out for each other. Selflessness will not employ power and money; selfishness will. But, there is one major flaw to this issue... our nature.

We will be selfish because that is who we are. We are sinners with a tendency to be about ourselves and not about others. If you think honestly about who you really are, you will have to admit that once you strip everything away you really want to be for yourself. It takes a conscious effort on your part to be for someone else. It is divine and supernatural to be selfless and focused on others and not yourself. It is this divine attitude that changes towns, cities and even countries, and, sadly, it is this attitude that is largely missing in our country's leaders and in our country as a whole. As times get tough, it will become increasingly apparent that this trait is missing in the vast majority of people.

If you look at these "occupy" protests you see a people protesting... what? I still don't really know what they are protesting. I assume that they believe they are protesting the rich who they also assume have gotten us into this mess, but what they are really protesting, in my opinion, is... success, only they don't really know it yet. The last time I checked the laws of this country, it was still legal to achieve wealth, and we still live in a democracy that runs on capitalism, right? So, in essence these protesters are protesting their own future success. But, we will all risk everything for the future promise of something for nothing, and this flows right out of who we are outside of Christ. We are and always will be for ourselves without divine intervention.

But, should we be protesting? If the answer is yes, then what should we be protesting? Well, there is really only one group that has no checks and balances, that has all the power and takes risk with no consequences, and that group is our politicians. It is these men and women that ask all of us to tighten our belts and take one for the team, and the whole time they have never once failed to vote themselves a pay raise. It is government that has had job growth and virtually no recession while the rest of us suffer through both. What the founding fathers have feared has become reality. We are now ruled not by one king, but by many.

We now live in a country with a culture defined by three traits: pragmatism, practicality and individuality. With these traits forming the current culture and the majority of our desires, it is no wonder that everything is now important. Things we might deem minor are major because there is no collective moral fiber being sown. There is no collective cause, nothing of which to be proud and certainly no quilt of agreed upon principals with which to build any unity. The giving spirit of the past is slowly dying and eroding away. Everyone is now for themselves and looking out for number one which means everything is of the utmost importance to self and can not be squandered on anyone else other than self. It also means those with the most power and the most money win most of the time, and we all know who those people are. 

Is it any wonder that this "I" mentality is a major part of current culture? It is exactly what scripture predicts in Proverbs 14:12 which states: "There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death."

Many will refuse to admit it, but the Bible is again accurate in regards to our human condition and our future predicament. The way, in the end, almost surely leads to death unless something changes. G.K. Chesterton, when asked what was wrong with the world, replied, "I am," which is still the answer to today's question. We must start with ourselves before we look at others. If we do, we may just have a chance. Blessings!