Monroe Bridge: A Reformed Dialogue on Truth, Culture, and Education

The Christian Life

2012-01-16T10:03:00.001-06:00

A Christian Worldview

2012-01-07T14:11:00.001-06:00

In my last post, I wrote of a basic worldview and made the case that we all view the world through our unique worldview. In this post, I would like to present the tenets of a Christian worldview.

Depending on what you are reading these days, a Christian worldview can be explained in a number of ways, but for our purposes currently I would like to stay simple. There are really only two main basic tenets of the Christian worldview: God exists, and God has spoken.What does this mean? Simply put, God is the reason for all that exists. Apart from Him, there is nothing and without Him there would be nothing. The two tenets have a causal relationship as God spoke creation into existence.

Any worldview classified as a Christian worldview must flow from four essential elements; without these elements the worldview can not and should not be considered Christian. They are Creation - Fall - Redemption - Consummation. This is the flow of history that is still being written by a Holy God. Viewing all of history through this lens means you believe that God's creative and redemptive providence is responsible for all that we see, hear and feel.

There are five primary characteristics of a worldview that encapsulate our thoughts on all things. Those five areas are: Metaphysics or the origin of all things, Core Values, Culture, Ethics and Theology. These areas are referenced in other terms but, for the most part, all the thoughts you will think and the things you will believe will fall into one of these five categories.These five areas must reflect your belief in the four elements of a Christian worldview. Now, here is the really important part! In my opinion, the Christian worldview is the only worldview that can be lived out consistently across these four elements and five characteristics.

The next time you talk to someone about the Christian worldview and they offer you an alternative worldview ask them if they can live their worldview out consistently... they will not be able to do it. The Christian can and will until the return of the King when all will know the Truth. Blessings!

Worldview

2012-01-05T16:24:00.002-06:00

This past week our school was allowed to pilot a program on worldview from a local Christian college, which reminded me about the importance of worldview. There are many great books on worldview, but one of the best, in my opinion, is Creation Regained by Albert M. Wolters. My views over the next few paragraphs are from this book.

Wolters gives us our best definition of worldview; he defines it as "the comprehensive framework of one's basic beliefs about things." Simply put, worldview is the way we look at the world, and we all look at the world through our worldview. What role does a worldview play in your life? Wolters believes a worldview serves as a guide to our entire life. He writes, "it functions like a compass or a road map." Our worldview shapes the way we look at events and the way we respond to events. Our opinions, political and the like, are all rooted in worldview.

As Christians, we must be a people rooted in worldview. Wolters is clear in his book, "our worldview must be shaped and tested by Scripture." We are people of the Word and that Word must permeate our being in such a complete way that our worldviews are reflective of that Word. Worldviews expose who you are and what you believe. You can not say God's word is infallible and then believe something contrary to scripture. True worldviews have a consistency that can only be found in people of the Word.

Many of us tend to confuse worldview and let it leak into the fields of philosophy and theology thinking one or both are required to build a worldview. Wolters offers advice here in writing,

"A worldview is a matter of the shared everyday experience of humankind, an inescapable component of all human knowing, and as such it is nonscientific, or rather (since scientific knowing is always dependent on the intuitive knowing of our everyday experience) prescientific, in nature. It belongs to an order of cognition more basic than that of science or theory."

A worldview is who you are and not what you know. Who you are will be revealed in the choices you make, in the opinions you have and in the priorities of your life. A Christian worldview reveals Christ, plain and simple. Look for more on this subject of worldview in the future. Blessings!

Books!

2012-01-02T17:04:00.000-06:00

Well, we are firmly in the new year, and its time to write about one of my favorite subjects... books. Every new year I like to examine a new list of books to read. Christian Educator's Journal has a nice article on books. Click here to read one author's list of the top ten books every educator should read.

Here are a few of my favorites.

1. The Bible by God (Who else?)
I believe everyone can benefit from reading the Bible.

2. Wisdom and Eloquence by Robert Littlejohn and Charlies Evans.
A great book that blends the philosophy and practicality of education.

3. Culture and Race by Thomas Sowell
I am almost finished with this one, but it is already one of my favorites. It is well written with sound theory backed by solid research.

4. Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Everyone should read this book once a year.

5. God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis
I read at least half of it every sixth months.

6. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
I understand it the more I read it.

7. The House of Seven Gable by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I fell in love with this book in high school, and it continues to be one of my favorites.

8. The Confessions by St. Augustine
Continues to be a classic and a favorite.

9. Piety and Philosophy by Richard Riesen
This books continues to be one I reference year after year.

10. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
My favorite of his three top sellers ( I also recommend The Tipping Point and Blink also).

There you have it, another list of books on which to spend your money. Happy reading!

Happy New Year Resolutions

2011-12-30T11:48:00.000-06:00

It is time, once again, to make our new year's resolutions, or so we all think. Have you ever wondered from where this tradition came?

The Romans originally dedicated this day to their god Janus, the god of gates, doors, and beginnings (Interesting!). After Julius Caesar reformed the widely accepted calendar of the day in 46 BC he was then murdered. The Roman Senate responded to his murder by voting to deify him on the 1st January 42 BCin honor of his life and his newly revamped calendar. The month originally was named after the deity Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward.

A New Year's Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more responsible. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year, and new beginnings. As Christians, we should understand this whole idea of new beginnings. In Christ, the old things have gone and new things have come. We, in Christ, are all new creations, and each year draws use closer to the coming Lord who will complete our transformation. Each year we close the door of the past year and open the door to the new year. My prayer is that all of our new resolutions would be rooted not who we are but in our Lord and for His glory as we step through the door to a brand new year! I warmly wish all of you a extremely Happy New Year. May God be glorified!

Waiting for "Superman"

2011-12-28T16:04:00.000-06:00

Here is a link to the trailer for the film, Waiting for "Superman." If you don't have time to see the film then please give at least two minutes of your time to view this trailer. Regardless of your allegiances to public, private or homeschooling, one issue comes forth... we had all better come together for the sake of our children. I have posted international literacy scores on this blog for years, and can confirm that the scores referenced in this video are accurate. Be warned, this is a public video and will have advertisements on it. Clicking the upper right hand corner X will remove the ad. Thanks for watching!

A Finnish Education

2011-12-27T08:48:00.000-06:00

A Finnish education is the best education in the world, according to many. What makes it excellent? Dr. Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish educator and author, has our answer for us in an article from Jenny Anderson in the New York Times.

"In his country, Dr. Sahlberg said later in an interview, teachers typically spend about four hours a day in the classroom, and are paid to spend two hours a week on professional development. At the University of Helsinki, where he teaches, 2,400 people competed last year for 120 slots in the (fully subsidized) master’s program for schoolteachers. “It’s more difficult getting into teacher education than law or medicine,” he said.
Dr. Sahlberg puts high-quality teachers at the heart of Finland’s education success story — which, as it happens, has become a personal success story of sorts, part of an American obsession with all things Finnish when it comes to schools."

Students from Finland outperform peers in 43 other nations and thatincludes the United States, Germany and Japan, and they do it in mathematics, science and reading skills. The performance of this small and remote European nation has a direct correlation to its educational policies enacted 40 years ago. A summary of those policies can be found in this article. In sum, here are a few of the ones I think are most important.

All kids start at the same level, regardless of their socio-economic background.

Teachers are highly respected and appreciated in Finland because all teachers need a master’s degree in order to qualify to teach in Finland.

Since the 1960s all political authorities, regardless of political affiliation, have seen education as the key to surviving and thriving in an increasingly competitive world.

The government takes care of all costs because of their commitment to free education for all.

Schools receive full autonomy in developing the daily delivery of education services. The ministry of education in Finland continues to believe that teachers, together with principals, parents and communities know best how to provide the best possible education for their children and youth.

As I close, I recommend the movie, Waiting for Superman, to all who want to get a glimpse of what is taking place in our public sector schools. Particularly noteworthy, is the two teacher unions and their responses, particularly to Michelle Rhee in our nation's capital. Education is our future, and yet, we have swallowed the lie. We believe "self" is more important than the child. If we are going to create an educational system in this country that properly prepares our students for the future, then "self" will have to take a back seat. Geoffrey Canada has a powerful quote in that film about adults being more important in a U.S. education than the child. Until we right that upside down equation, there will be little change in the majority of education choices we offer our children in this country. Blessings to all!

Christmas

2011-12-23T08:10:00.002-06:00

Christmas... a time of the year when everyone agrees to slow down to a stop for a day or two. Traveling on Christmas day is an odd experience as even the busiest roads are eerily inactive. As I reflect on my own Christmas experiences in the past, I am forced to consider current Christmas and its lost meaning.

In today's world, everyone celebrates Christmas no matter belief or worldview because we have all come to embrace Christmas as a time of getting. The laws of budget and constraint become suspended at this time of the year as we spend more than we have for the purpose of giving so we can make sure we all get something.

Is Christmas about getting? The time is set aside to honor the birth of the Christ-child. The exact time of his birth is not the 25th of December, but does it really matter? Whether you believe in Christ or not is not the issue; the issue is the original meaning and purpose behind Christmas... giving. God gave His one and only Son to the world so that the world would not be without hope. Through His Son, the world, His creation, has a way back to the Father. Those who believe in the Son will be with the Father in worship forever as was the purpose for the Father in creating all of us in the beginning. This account is littered with the action of giving. God, the Father, gave; Jesus, the Son, gave. God even gave the Holy Spirit to us to assist us in coming back to Him. And, what are we to give in all of this? We are to give ourselves to Christ for the purpose of eternal life! Even in our giving in this process, we get... we get everything by giving to Him who deserves so much more.

Christmas, in my opinion, is about giving. It has become distorted because we have turned the process upside down and made it about us, as is always our tendency. It is a time of the year when we are to model God the Father and give... give... and give. But, as is so often the case, we tend to distort messages and turn them inside out so they fit our purposes. The message of giving has become the message of getting and the spirit of Christmas has become muddied and confused. The commercial side of our country as pushed this idea of getting inside this idea of self and worked it to the point of convincing all of us that Christmas is a time to ensure that at least one time during the year we get what we deserve. What we have lost is this: the reality is that if we are given what we deserve gifts and wrapping paper are the least of our worries.

My prayer is that those of us in Christ would lead the charge in taking back Christmas for its original purposes... giving. Be wary though, if you give there will be no guarantee of a return gift, but that is part of the true spirit of giving. God the Father gave, understanding that in His divine providence some would not be saved. There are no guarantees in life; that is a concept man invented in order to try and have it all. We can not have it all on this side of heaven. We only get it all when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then, those of us in Christ, will truly have all that we need... forever.

I warmly wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Higgs Boson Particle

2011-12-21T12:10:00.000-06:00

Scientists claim that they are close to discovering the Higgs Boson particle. Lots of hype came out of the science community anticipating a ground-breaking announcement, and all that was announced, really, was that scientists are now closer than they have ever been, but still have found nothing. What exactly is this Higgs Boson particle?

British physicist Peter Higgs in the 1960s postulated a theory hypothesizing that a lattice of sorts, that he referred to as the Higgs field, fills the entire universe. Imagine an electromagnetic field that affects particles as they move through it. We know that when an electron passes through a positively charged crystal lattice of atoms, the electron's mass will increase. That same principal might be true in the Higgs field; particles moving through any field create distortion. The Higgs Boson particle is thought to be tied to a field thought to be responsible for giving all other particles their mass. The operative word is "thought" as scientists do not have any details about the mass of the Higgs Boson particle. Because scientists know nothing about the mass of this "supposed particle," they have no specific parameters for its location. It has been like looking for a needle in a haystack. Supposedly, scientists have now eliminated enough possibilities to consider the Higgs Boson cornered as most agree that the Higgs Boson particle's mass lies in a range between 115 and 130 gigaelectronvolts (GeV).

According to Guido Tonelli, we are still a good distance away from discovering this particle, and there is still a good chance it does not exist at all.

"The excess is most compatible with a Standard Model Higgs in the vicinity of 124 GeV and below, but the statistical significance is not large enough to say anything conclusive," CMS experiment spokesperson Guido Tonelli said in a statement. "As of today what we see is consistent either with a background fluctuation or with the presence of the boson. Refined analyses and additional data delivered in 2012 by this magnificent machine [Large Hadron Collider] will definitely give an answer."

The question of mass has always been puzzling, and has left many wondering if the Higgs Boson was the missing particle in the Standard Model, the widely accepted theory of nuclear interactions. The Standard Model effectively describes three of nature's four forces of particle interaction: electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces. Scientists have learned much more about the strong force, which binds the elements of atomic nuclei together, and the weak force, which governs radioactivity and hydrogen fusion (from the sun). Electromagnetism describes fairly well how particles interact with photons, which are tiny packets of electromagnetic radiation. The weak force does a good job describing how two other entities interact with electrons, quarks, neutrinos and other sub-atomic particles. However, there is one very important difference between these two interactions: photons have no mass, while the masses of the other two entities are large in comparison. In fact, they are some of the most massive sub-atomic particles known to scientists today.

The first assumption, and in science an assumption can be a very bad thing, is to assume that the two entities exist and interact with other particles in normal ways. Here lies our problem according to almost all scientists, the math does not add up; the giant masses of the two entities raise inconsistencies in the Standard Model. In order to make sense of this, scientists postulate that there must be at least one other particle -- the Higgs Boson - to account for the inconsistency. As I read about the Higgs Boson I wondered, could this also be explained according to the distortion created as particles move through any field, but according to what I have read, most scientists believe this would not add enough to explain the inconsistencies in the Standard Model; there has to be something more, and that something more would be the Higgs Boson. Some believe that there is only one Higgs, and others believe there maybe more than one. Either way, most believe it is the missing piece and worth all the money, effort and time. And, there you have the reason for all the hype in the last month.

What will they find? I am confident it will be more proof pointing to a Creator! Blessings!

Perspectives or Worldviews

2011-12-11T19:33:00.001-06:00

We no longer live in a world that builds worldviews; instead, I believe we are entering a new era. It will be an era where everyone will live according to their own perspective.What does this mean? A worldview, by definition, is an overall perspective from which one interprets the world; a collection of beliefs about life and the universe. A perspective, on the other hand, is the state of one's ideas, the facts known to only one.

The idea of perspective is an important one to us because of the absence of one dominant worldview. In the past, there was one dominant worldview, the Christian worldview; it was an important piece of culture because it served as the moral compass for culture. Even when the Christian worldview came under attack, other worldviews came forward and became dominant. All was still well because these worldviews, while not Christian in doctrine, still were very much Christian in nature and ethos and continued to serve as a moral compass for the culture. The dominant worldview always provided a venue for morality and for each new perspective to become incorporated into old ones and become part of the coming dominant worldview, which always had enough morality to keep culture on track; it is how the cycle worked for many years, but today none of that is needed. The idea of a worldview has been deconstructed and taken apart in search for that piece which welcomes all views of the world. Worldviews are too neat, ordered and consistent for today's world. To live inside a worldview, ideas have to relate in some small way in order to form a framework, even if in the end there is no relation.Worldviews will still be moral in nature because they began that way, but a perspective is different. Each one is unique and different; there is no need to relate one to another because they all stand alone, and best of all for the world, morality is not required.

A perspective is one's own ideas, and they need not relate to any other idea because all ideas are now welcome. Here lies our problem, and, to be quite honest, most see it not as a problem but as a fringe benefit. I am not sure anyone understands the true severity of this problem. In order to explain this properly, I will use the graphical idea of linear perspective as it helped me understand the issue at hand.

Linear perspective works by representing the light that passes from one scene through an imaginary rectangle, to the viewer's eye (as shown in the diagram in this post). It is similar to you looking through a window and painting what is seen directly onto the windowpane as you see it. If I view it from the same spot that the windowpane was painted, the painted image would be identical to what I saw through the unpainted window when the scene was painted. Each object painted in this manner is a flat, scaled down version of the object on the other side of the window, but each part of the painted object lies on a straight line from the viewer's eye to the equivalent portion of the real object it represents. Those who view it cannot perceive any difference between the painted scene on the windowpane and the view of the real scene, providing that the painted scene is that good and those that view stand still in the spot the scene was painted. All perspective drawings have to assume that the viewer is a certain distance away from the drawing for them to work. Objects are scaled relative to the original viewer. Now, here lies our problem; objects are often not scaled evenly: a circle often appears as an ellipse and a square can appear as a trapezoid. This distortion is referred to as foreshortening, and represents the problem with perspective.

Perspectives are always representing the view of the viewer and each viewer has a slightly different perspective. Perspectives are never true views collectively and never a view of three dimensional reality. Despite how real one perspective looks, it only takes a slight movement on our part to discover the truth; that it is only a painting and not real. What we are looking at is an interpretation of reality but not reality itself, even though it looks very much like the real thing. In much the same way any perspective representation of a scene that includes parallel lines has one or more vanishing points in that drawing so too do real perspectives. Discovering and identifying true perspectives from false ones will become impossible since all of them will be built the same way, defined in the same manner and painted in a one dimensional view by a stationary artist. Perspectives take three dimensional truths and reduce them down to a one dimensional view for the sake of art. Perspectives, in essence, reduce what is being painted to an insignificant part of the process of painting. What is important from a perspective standpoint is the painting not the scene being painted. And there lies are issue - God's creation is being replaced by man's creation.

We Christians fall into this trap as well when we try to put our spin on what scripture says.
A good example of this can be found in Eve when she responded to the snake's question regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis.

    "Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
    He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate."

(Genesis 3:1-6 ESV)

Eve did not answer the snake according to the worldview the Lord God gave her; instead, she answered according to her perspective. Adam and Eve's answer reflected that flat scaled down view of the tree. They viewed the tree according to their sight; it had fruit that they wanted to eat, and it was beautiful so, naturally, they wanted to touch it... perspective.This highlights the biggest difference between perspective and worldview; perspective is always rooted in self and worldview is not. And, when you root your view of the world in yourself, you fail to see the world as it was created because you are only interested in seeing the world as you painted it. Do we need another reason why perspectives are dangerous? We need to not usher in perspectives; instead, we must demand a return to worldviews where God's creation reigns supreme. Blessings!

The End of Christian Education?

2011-12-04T16:21:00.001-06:00

K. A. Smith, in his book, Desiring the Kingdom, suggests the following axiom, "behind every pedagogy is a philosophical anthropology." In lay man's terms, Smith is saying behind everything we do educationally is an assumption about the nature of who we are as people. Smith writes, "Thus a pedagogy that thinks about education as primarily a matter of disseminating information tends to assume that human beings are primarily "thinking things" and cognitive machines."

In that same sense, an education that is strictly focused on content and the replication of that content in one form or another promotes assumptions centered on the fact that everyone is equal and the same. The focus on content elevates content above people and attempts to push people down to a point where they will all be the same, and all in the name of equity and tolerance. The truth is that not everyone is the same or equal.

Looking around with open eyes and an open mind will quickly reveal a world of differences. There are rarely two people who look alike; there are no two people who share the same fingerprint. Even when examining twins, that examination will reveal two separate personalities. Everyone is different in some way which brings forth the following question: why the intense push to make everyone the same?

A focus on content is the only way to achieve equity, and it is done by lowering expectations and standards. No one wants to finish last, but only one can finish first. When we try and fix the rules so no one finishes last we have effectively eliminated anyone from finishing first, and we have made a statement regarding our belief concerning the nature of who we are. Smith writes, "In contrast, a pedagogy that understands education as formation usually assumes that humans beings are a different kind of animal. It is not that we don't think, but rather that our thinking and cognition arise from a more fundamental, precognitive orientation to the world."

That orientation is one that is rooted in the world as presented in the scriptures and not rooted in the randomness the current world presents. There will be those who finish first and those who do not. In the current world, there are consequences... if we are citizens of this current reality. Those of us in Christ are not. We know and understand our current reality in a way that only those with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit can, but we also understand where our real citizenship lies. Scripture teaches that the first shall be last and the last shall be first which is a bit abstract unless you understand the truth of the gospels. Our future is not dependent on how much we know or where we finish; our future is rooted in a belief in the King, our Savior, Jesus Christ. This statement does not diminish the importance of education. That is a separate discussion. Our discussion today has to do with our assumptions as presented in the way we teach and instruct.

Smith is right... behind every pedagogy is an assumption. Pedagogy is often related directly to teaching, but a closer examination of the definition reveals a closer tie to the art of instruction. Defined, it has more to do with the principles and methods of the action of instruction than instruction itself. These are rooted in what we believe more than what we teach, and the little secret is that we transfer most of those beliefs in our instruction all the time. As we argue over pedagogy and educational choices, are we also arguing over the future of Christian education? A good question that must be considered! Blessings!

IndoctriNation

2011-12-02T20:03:00.001-06:00

Here is the trailer for a very interesting video. I have only see the trailer, which I will post here along with the following quote from Cal Thomas,

"Every Christian parent with a child in a government school should see this [movie] and be forced to confront their unwillingness to do what Scripture requires for the children on loan to them by God. A mass exodus from government schools is the only way to preserve the souls and minds of our children." Cal Thomas

IndoctriNation Trailer from IndoctriNation on Vimeo.

The Instrument of Thought

2011-11-28T19:12:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-18T22:28:00.001-06:00

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 myview, two factors that, above all others, have shaped human history in thiscentury: one is the development of the natural sciences and technology,certainly the greatest success story of our time—to this, great and mountingattention has been paid from all quarters. The other, without doubt, consistsin the great ideological storms that have altered the lives of virtually allmankind: the Russian Revolution and its aftermath—totalitarian tyrannies ofboth right and left and the explosions of nationalism, racism, and, in places,of religious bigotry, which, interestingly enough, not one among the mostperceptive 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 outlookswas the belief that solutions to the central problems existed, that one coulddiscover 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 howto live: societies could be transformed in the light of true ideals believed inwith 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!

2011-11-11T08:07:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-10T17:59:00.001-06:00

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

2011-11-04T23:40:00.002-05:00

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!

Education and Culture... Odessa, Ukraine

2011-10-29T09:07:00.001-05:00

What does Christian education look like in Odessa, Ukraine? Well, in many ways it looks a lot like it does here, and in other ways it looks very different.

This past week I traveled to Odessa, Ukraine to put on a conference for the faculty and staff of a small Christian school in Odessa, Dawn Christian School. Our school's chaplain came with me, and together we put on a two day conference on what we do at Westminster Christian Academy.

We spoke on such topics as vision and mission, student placement and three dimensional teaching. What we found is that the cultural struggles of our country are also their struggles as well. Far and away, the most frequent question topic asked was about student discipline.

Dawn Christian School (DCS) is provided space by a local Catholic school. The school struggles to survive as the economy in Ukraine is in poorer shape that ours. It is currently support mostly by donations from our country, but it is growing as this year they had to turn away many families from the kindergarten due to a lack of space. The faculty and staff are a dedicated bunch as evidenced by two female faculty who ride a bus for almost two hours one way just to work at DCS.

The city and country are beautiful, but the people are even more beautiful. The pace of life is slower because relationships are important. Conversations are very much a part of the culture and beauty is considered important too. Walking the streets of Odessa, I tried to imagine what this city looked like prior to communism... it must have been a sight to behold because it is slowly becoming beautiful once again. Each street is lined with buildings built with a unique touch. Each building is different aesthetically yet they all fit together to form one building. The roof lines are home to gables, carvings and some of the most beautiful woodwork I have seen. Streets range from cobblestone to pavement and are lined with trees and bushes. Odessa is home to many parks each full of flowers, green grass and statutes.

Education and culture in Odessa, Ukraine will be an interesting study as one intersects with the other in the coming years. As churches and Christian schools grow, the impact each this culture will be a testimony to the power of the gospel. Join me in praying for Ukraine and other countries like it as God breaks into their reality to bring more to Him. Blessings!

Better or Worse

2011-10-05T17:40:00.000-05:00

In 1992 Francis Fukuyama wrote an interested book entitled, The End of History and the Last Man. In that book he wrote this:

"The experience of the twentieth century made highly problematic the claims of progress on the basis of science and technology. For the ability of technology to better human life is critically dependent on a parallel moral progress in man. Without the later, the power of technology will simply be turned to evil purposes, and mankind will be worse off than it was previously."

Now I have no idea where Fukuyama stands spiritually, but I can probably guess after reading his book, but that does not matter. The issue is not his spiritual standing; the issue is his statement above. Is it valid?

We tend to look at technology as a panacea - something that will solve all of our social and educational ills. Today's technology is no different than yesterday's; the computer, the horse or the car... all must be created or managed by mankind. Technological advances, no matter what they are, better no one and save no one on their own. We can examine history and see evidence of how technological advances, initially used for good, were eventually used for evil. Does that mean we do not continue to create and invent? Absolutely not!

But, it does mean that we must understand culture to understand where we currently are in relation to the past. Fukuyama is right in the fact that the moral progress must not stop. Sadly, it's progress has slowed. Somewhere along the way, morality became a weakness, a sickness, if you will, of which we must be cured.

It is interesting that Fukuyama makes this statement early in chapter one of his book, goes on to examine the Industrial revolution and its role in history, democracy and its relationships to fascism and communism, and, yet, never comes back to visit this idea of moral decline. Instead, he ends chapter one pointing to this idea of betterment as he writes,

"As we reach the 1990s, the world as a whole has not revealed new evils, but has gotten better in certain distinct ways. Chief among the surprises that have occurred in the recent past was the totally unexpected collapse of communism throughout much of the world in the late 1980s."

Today, in 2011, we struggle with many things. In our country alone, we have two parties who have lost the ability to debate on issues. We have a national debt spiraling out of control, an economy on the brink and a polarized nation. Why? When morality is removed from the our national psyche everyone is right, all the time. There is no equation for unity because 1+1=1.

Morality is the fiber that strengthens the national fabric in ways that allow for difference and debate. When there is no moral fiber there will be no debate because the fabric is weak and frail, especially in the middle. The middle is where the real work gets done, and where the moral fiber is strongest. It is the moral fiber that brings the many different pieces of fabric together in order to have one large quilt made of many different pieces of fabric, each important and distinct in their own way. The moral fiber takes all those differences and brings them together, forming one strong quilt. Without the moral fiber, each individual fabric stays isolated and becomes paranoid and protective, and all actions are for its own purposes and protection. Sound familiar? Better or worse, that may not even be the question any more? Blessings!

Truth Again

2011-09-30T18:13:00.000-05:00

Here I am again; stuck on this question of truth. What is truth? I can not find a way past the initial question. Too many people ask the question, and then, just as Pilate did, leave before getting an answer. So, what is truth?

Truth defined is:

the true or actual state of a matter: conformity with fact or reality;verity: the truth of a statement; a verified or indisputablefact, proposition, principle, or the like:mathematical truths; the state or character ofbeing true; actuality or actual existence.

Do these definitions really help us that much? What actually is the true state of matter? What fact or reality are we suppose to conform to?Which statement is true; which fact, proposition or principle is indisputable? So many use this word so emphatically to try and convince us that their fact, proposition, principle or state of being is true when the reality is this: it is no more true than the last one. There is one who has made a very different claim regarding truth. This claim is not tied to a fact or a proposition. It is not a principle needing to be applied. It is a person!

In John 14:6, Jesus made the claim, " I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This claim is much different than the rest. It is one that is rooted and embodied by the person of Jesus Christ. He is not merely saying He is a truth; no, he is saying He is "the" truth. All other truths flow out of Him. This is quite a statement and should be easy to refute, even in the book from which it is quoted.

There were 40 authors of 66 books which were written over the span of 1500 years so surely there will be some contradictory seam to contradict and disprove this outlandish claim, right? Well, there not only is not one, but it seems the exact opposite is true. The Greek word for truth used by Jesus in this claim is "aletheia" and used throughout the Bible in other contexts. The word's origin is grounded in this idea of truth and certainty. The word is used 21 times in John, 10 times in the Psalms and 8 times in I John. In no other book is it used more than six times. These three books just happen to be the books that teach us about the person of Jesus Christ, salvation in Jesus Christ and life lived in Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder that "aletheia" would be prominent in these books?

Truth, according to scripture, seems to be directly linked to the person and nature of Jesus Christ. In our current culture, all other truth is accepted or given some validity in the arena of ideas... except this idea of Jesus Christ being truth. But, again, scripture predicts this and warns of this, which is quite amazing considering the 40 authors and the 66 books and the 1500 years.

What is truth? The reality of the question according to current culture is this: truth is relative and reflective of your deepest held beliefs. Truth is what is most important to you and what is valued most by you. If you are like most people... truth is rooted in yourself and what is important to you. On Sundays and Wednesday nights truth is Jesus Christ, but in the day-to-day living out of everyday life... not so much. Jesus had an answer for those of us living a life similar to this; we will say Lord, Lord and He will say, I never knew you.

Jesus claimed to be the truth and the life and the way. His claim was absolute with no wiggle room. As C.S. Lewis so famously proclaimed, "He is either our Lord or a lunatic and a liar." If Jesus lays the claim that He is truth, can there be any other? Blessings!

Ideas

2011-09-21T19:10:00.001-05:00

Richard Weaver penned his book, Ideas Have Consequences, in 1948, and those ideas still resonate today. Ideas do have consequences.

If we examine our world we will find that not only do ideas have consequences, but they have power too. Ideas have started revolutions, oppressed many and killed more. That is why it is important to read the thoughts of Weaver and understand the power of ideas.

Weaver helps us understand the story as he writes:

"This story is eloquently reflected in changes that have come over education. The shift from the truth of the intellect to the facts of experience followed hard upon the meeting with the witches. A little sign appears, "a cloud no bigger than a man’s hand," in a change that came over the study of logic in the fourteenth century-the century of Occam. Logic became grammaticized, passing from a science which taught men vere loqui to one which taught recte loqui or from an ontological division by categories to a study of signification, with the inevitable focus upon historical meanings. Here begins the assault upon definition: if words no longer correspond to objective realities, it seems no great wrong to take liberties with words. From this point on, faith in language as a means of arriving at truth weakens, until our own age, filled with an acute sense of doubt, looks for a remedy in the new science of semantics."

But, semantics would not be the end but the beginning. He writes:

"So with the subject matter of education. The Renaissance increasingly adapted its course of study to produce a successful man of the world, though it did not leave him without philosophy and the graces, for it was still, by heritage, at least, an ideational world and was therefore near enough transcendental conceptions to perceive the dehumanizing effects of specialization. In the seventeenth century physical discovery paved the way for the incorporation of the sciences, although it was not until the nineteenth that these began to challenge the very continuance of the ancient intellectual disciplines. And in this period the change gained momentum, aided by two developments of overwhelming influence. The first was a patent increase in man’s dominion over nature which dazzled all but the most thoughtful; and the second was the growing mandate for popular education. The latter might have proved a good in itself, but it was wrecked on equalitarian democracy’s unsolvable problem of authority: none was in a position to say what the hungering multitudes were to be fed. Finally, in an abject surrender to the situation, in an abdication of the authority of knowledge, came the elective system. This was followed by a carnival of specialism, professionalism, and vocationalism, often fostered and protected by strange bureaucratic devices, so that on the honored name of university there traded a weird con genes of interests, not a few of which were anti-intellectual even in their pretensions."

And, there it is; the story of mankind's passage from religious beings to philosophical beings. Many will acknowledge this passage as positive and good, but a closer look will reveal another passage. This one is the passage from morality to decadence. And, like it or not, that is where we find ourselves today. Weaver paints an accurate picture of this story. One every Christian should read in order to understand current culture. Blessings!

Vision

2011-09-15T21:43:00.000-05:00

I am more convinced than ever that one of the ideas disappearing today is the idea of visionary leadership. Vision is an extraordinary thing. I am not sure that many people appreciate the power of vision.

Vision is the path forward; it defines why an organization exists. Vision clarifies the purpose of an organization. Schools, churches, organizations and people need vision. The only way to lead is by vision.

I am privy to strategic plans and discussions that take place regarding five and ten year plans for the future. Money is spent on companies who send specialists who spend hours creating a strategic plan without first considering the vision of the organization.

I watch leaders struggle in positions of authority because they do not lead by vision. Reaction, appeasement, compromise and inconsistency are all marks of a leadership that has no vision. A vision statement states, very clearly, to the watching world what the organization, school or person wants to be to that watching world. But, that is only the first step.

The vision must be known and embraced. It must be lived out day after day by the leadership. It must be repeated over and over to everyone in the organization. It must fit the organization well. People also need vision or else they will be doomed to frustration, confusion and inconsistency.

Today, most of the leadership I see is reactionary. These leaders stand back and try to determine which decision is most popular or which will cause the least amount of trouble. Today's leaders make decisions according to their own beliefs, and never consider others or the organization. They rarely seek counsel, spend little time in prayer and reflection and no time in analysis or synthesis. It is a wonder that we ever get any decision out of such a process.

Visionary leadership is a dying idea for many reasons, but one of the most telling is that visionary leadership is leadership that moral, selfless and service-oriented. These traits have been eradicated from our society in the last two decades. Without these traits being instilled in our future leaders, visionary leadership will be the next great idea to disappear. Do you really want to be lead by those who refuse to take responsibility for anything?

I will end with this. I was listening to a news radio show today as I was driving. I listen to talk radio at times, and the show I was listening to was conservative. A man called in clearly in favor of the liberal agenda. As I listen to the conservative argue with the liberal, I felt like I was in high school again because both were that childish. And, do you know why? Both were arguing from a perspective and worldview missing vision. Without vision we are all doomed.

Proverbs 29:18 states, " Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law." This is not just biblical truth but current reality! May the Lord help us! Blessings!

Differences of Opinion

2011-09-05T08:52:00.001-05:00

What is wrong with being different? Your answer should be... nothing! Everyone is different and should be. I believe part of our problem today is that we frown on differences, or I should say those in power frown on differences.

What about the whole idea of opinions, what is wrong with different opinions? In DC, differences of opinion spell defeat and loss of power, which is part of DC's problem. They have forgotten two heads are better than one, and many opinions around a table have a better chance at arriving at the right opinion than at the one dominant opinion. This is part of our problem in this country - we have gotten away from the many.

Many of us think our way is always right, and any opinion differing from ours is a threat. This is contrary to the truth. It takes many opinions to find the one that is right and the one that will work for the many. When I push mine over all others I have found it works best for me, but not so well for others. What a revelation, right?

We must all learn to celebrate our differences. We are all different in some way. The push to make us all alike is embedded in oppression and leads to demise. All we need to do is check our history to confirm this truth. But, when we celebrate our differences our eyes are open to more of the world. We meet those not like us and learn from them as they learn from us. Rejecting differences keeps us in the same state, never growing and moving forward in our understanding of the differences in the world in which we live.

When we reject different opinions and different people we reject growth and wisdom. Over the years, most of my growth has come from being exposed to different ideas from those I might not agree with at first. My thoughts and ideas have changed and moved because of the many people God has put into my life. Deep, embedded beliefs have changed because of new relationships and exposure to different views of the world. I believe one of the most dangerous things we can do is to surround ourselves we those who believe exactly what we believe.

What happens when that takes place? Well, one starts to take offense to any idea contrary to those ideas held. One begins to build defenses to protect those held ideas, and those ideas become the identity and existence for those who hold them. Anyone in association with those holding such ideas must first believe those ideas before any relationship is formed. All other ideas are crushed before consideration and labeled accordingly. Sound stagnate, stale and unproductive? No need to wonder any longer why our government can't accomplish anything these days. But, this is not just found in our government; it is also found in our hearts.

Each and everyone of us has this potential. There are so many competing truths out in the world today that have nothing to say to us because they assume that which is false. Look deep into your own heart and consider your own thoughts. Consider those thoughts you have with yourself. Then, consider your current reality and belief system. Do your deepest thoughts match your current belief of what is true? So many reject the belief in God without even really considering it. Belief in God is a different opinion; it is one worth considering before blind rejection because it is the one that will change your life. Blessings!

Truth

2011-08-31T22:13:00.002-05:00

Everyone is always talking about truth today. As an educator, truth is an important part of the educational equation. Truth is always part of the cognitive process of thinking. It is a basic ingredient of a human being because everyone has a view of truth.

How do we plod through all the different views of truth in the world today? How do we know which ones are true and which ones are not? As a born-again Christian, how do I know that what I believe to be true is really true? How do I know that scripture, which I believe to be God's word, is true and believable?

Let's not get all caught up in what is true for the time being. Instead, let's make the case that some form of truth must be part of the human DNA. For at least two decades, those who believe in a liberal relative view of the world have won the war of culture. They have pushed to the front their view of the world and made it the dominant current view. Now, in order to be fair, we must assume that this current view is no closer to the truth than the one it replaced two decades ago. According to their argument, truth is relative and can not possibly be the same for everyone. The view that was replaced, that which is conservative, universal and absolute, is still a view, and it is a view that is shared by many. Those on the liberal side did a great job of demanding that their view get equal time and equal rights, but was it more accurate and true? At the time, it was not promoted as such, but now that it is a view shared but those who are powerful and influential... the rules have changed.

But, here is the secret they don't want you to think about... the rules, you know... the ones they used to establish the way for an acceptance of all things liberal, relative and radical... well, those same rules mean that all views of the world are relevant. Let's break it down to its simplest form. If your view of the world is liberal than you believe in a reality that is relative and not absolute. There is no right answer nor is there an absolute truth. Human reason is the real god, and utopia can only be found by human reason. Man is good, and it is society that is responsible for all social ills.

These thoughts permeate our media, government and higher educational institutions today. My issues with these ideas are not their foundation for they are ideas and should have the freedom to compete with other ideas. My issue is that these ideas are ideas that reject all other ideas. Any idea that is deemed competition is labeled a threat and then assassinated through various fallacious attacks. They claim their heritage from the Greek culture yet reject the most fundamental principal found there... an exchange of many ideas. The agora was the marketplace where people went to trade commerce, but it was also the center of culture where the exchange of ideas took place. What most frustrates me about today's America is that there is little exchange of ideas. If a true liberal worldview existed there would be an equal exchange of ideas because a true liberal worldview is always seeking utopia through human reason. That means welcoming all ideas to the table because the goal was always to find the best ideas.

We started this conversation talking about truth, and will end it there. Every human being has formed an idea on what is true and right and will live according to that idea. As you form your idea on truth, consider a few points. First, that which is true welcomes competition because competition only confirms truth. Second, that which is true is true no matter the rule or regulation. And, finally, a true worldview can be lived out consistently in all situations. I have tried out most worldviews and have found only one that is true and right... Jesus Christ! As you live your life consider that which you believe to be true... does it welcome competition? Is it true in all situations? Can you live it out consistently or do you have to hide it in certain situations? Your answers to these questions may make all the difference in the world to you some day. Blessings!
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Epistemology

2011-08-27T07:28:00.005-05:00

What is epistemology, and why is important to education? According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP), it is the study of knowledge.

"As the study of knowledge, epistemology is concerned with the following questions: What are the necessary and sufficient conditions of knowledge? What are its sources? What is its structure, and what are its limits? As the study of justified belief, epistemology aims to answer questions such as: How we are to understand the concept of justification? What makes justified beliefs justified? Is justification internal or external to one's own mind? Understood more broadly, epistemology is about issues having to do with the creation and dissemination of knowledge in particular areas of inquiry."

Knowledge, the term, is not as concrete as one might think. Many of us spend very little time contemplating what knowledge is. There are various kinds of knowledge: knowing how to do something, knowing someone, knowing a skill set and the list goes on. The foundation of the question begins with the proposition.

Knowledge of propositions refers to the knowledge that the schema: the subject 'S' knows proposition 'p' where 'S' has knowledge for 'p' that is known. Where education comes into play is in this question: what conditions are necessary for 'S' to know 'p' well? Is that not education?

There are traditional and non-traditional approaches to answer this question. For today we will stick with a strictly traditional approach. According to the SEP, "knowledge that p is, at least approximately, justified true belief (JTB). False propositions cannot be known. Therefore, knowledge requires truth." The quotes goes on to state,

"Finally, S's being correct in believing that p might merely be a matter of luck.^[2] Therefore, knowledge requires a third element, traditionally identified as justification. Thus we arrive at a tripartite analysis of knowledge as JTB: S knows that p if and only if p is true and S is justified in believing that p. According to this analysis, the three conditions — truth, belief, and justification — are individually necessary and jointly sufficient for knowledge."

Truth, belief and justification are necessary to understand that which is known or knowledge. What does this say to those of us in education? How can one teach within a system that promotes a knowledge whose truth, belief and justification are different than those found in your own belief system? How can education be standardized when the three elements vary according to location and demographics? Hard questions that must be considered as we consider the educational choices for our children, and questions I will take up in future posts. Blessings!

Comments from WPC's Back to School Night

2011-08-16T08:04:00.002-05:00

Here are my comments from Westminster Presbyterian Church's "Back to School" Night. It was a great evening. Many thanks go to our sponsoring church, Westminster Presbyterian Church!

As the church that birthed this ministry 47 years ago, it is only right that we begin our school year tonight in worship at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The goal of Westminster Christian Academy is to partner with each family and each student in providing an education that is Christ-centered, excellent and able to produce graduates who ultimately will think in higher categories, critically and Christianly in all things. But, this partnership did not begin here; it began 47 years ago when a church was given a profound idea… to start a school, and not just any a school… a school that would be Christian and excellent and open to families who wanted such an education for their children. The church had no lofty goals initially. No, it wanted to humbly obey the calling given to it by a Holy God. So, the church began to make preparations to start this school. Many gave much, and, despite tragedy and great sacrifice, the church started the school. And the school survived and started to grow. Times were hard and difficult, but the church was faithful and the school continued to grow. From one blessing to the next, the church and the school continued to move forward together, from one property to the next, and now we sit, tonight, preparing to begin our 47^th year together. Belief, obedience, sacrifice, faith and vision have moved both entities to this point, but why? Is education that is Christian really worth all the effort and money?

James K.A. Smith offers a response to that question; he writes,

“Stemming from the conviction that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10), the Reformed tradition has long recognized that Christ’s lordship extends over every sphere of life, including education. There is no sphere of life that is “neutral”; rather, our practices and institutions are always and ultimately shaped and informed by faith commitments. So, while an institution might claim to be “secular,” as if it were not religious, Reformed thinkers from Abraham Kuyper to Nicholas Wolterstorff have seen through such claims: what pretends to be neutral or secular in fact masks some other faith commitment.

The vision of Christian education is radical because it stems from the conviction that any and every education is rooted (Latin: radix) in some worldview, some constellation of ultimate beliefs. Therefore, it’s important that the education and formation of Christians be rooted in Christ (Col. 2:7)—rooted in and nourished by a Christian worldview across the curriculum.”

Education will imprint a worldview on all children. Christian Education rightly should be an extension of what we believe, how badly we believe it and how desperately we want our children to believe it. I Timothy 4:12 states, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” So, we should not apologize that we want our children in an education that sets before them Christian examples of these things.

As we prepare for another school year, the school will welcome an enrollment of well over 700 students, the largest enrollment in the school’s history. The school is establishing new heights in scholarships, test scores and various other academic areas, but while all of those are important, and they are because we are called to be a school, they are only the beginning. There is so much more to what is taking place in the minds and the hearts of Westminster students.

In 2001, Dr. Ruth Simmons was sworn in as the first African American women president of Brown University. In her acceptance speech she said this: “the purpose of education is not to provide you employment, but to nurture your soul.” I believe she captures the essence of what we are trying to do at Westminster Christian Academy. We are trying to compete with the world for the souls of our students. Such a lofty and seemingly impossible task, how can we hope to capture the souls of students in a world that has so many advantages over us? Do I dare say it again… education that is excellent and Christ-centered. Some would say we utter those words too many times; I would say we don’t do it enough.

Those are only words; what can they do to change the hearts and the minds of students. Come to our campus, walk our halls and talk to our students and you will see students who love the Lord Jesus, love each other and want to engage the world for their Lord. Are they perfect? No, and neither are we, but in some ways, they are well ahead of the rest of us.

The question I get most is this: what is Christian education? It is not Christian textbooks; it is not Christian pedagogy. It is not even Christian policies and procedures. Christian education is mostly about the Christian teacher. It is the Christian teacher that imparts the education to the student. This summer in a class we were studying the transfer of knowledge. One of the papers we read posited this idea: the transfer of knowledge is at its best when both teacher and student possess a “critical spirit” towards each other. Upon reading more, this idea of a critical spirit – mutual respect, freedom of expression and concern for each other – is rooted in the idea of discipleship. At Westminster, the teacher is not just expected to teach but also to disciple.

When a school hires its faculty and staff with a vision of academic excellence and discipleship something takes place inside students. Something will always take place inside students as they mature. Theorists have a phrase for this change; it is called cognitive dissonance. Simply put, it states that students will fall to the majority influence in their lives as the maturation process takes place. Fifty years ago most students spent that time with their families, but over the last twenty with families forced to work longer hours and with both parents now working, students now spend that time at school with teachers and peers. When We take cognitive dissonance and make it work for us by providing our children influences outside the family that reflect those inside the family… well, you start to see students do amazing things for the Lord. I am certainly not discounting the intervening work of the Holy Spirit, but what I am pointing to is our calling as parents… to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

At Westminster Christian Academy, we desire to prepare students to engage the world as followers of Jesus Christ and as those who think in higher categories, discern truth from heresy and articulate faith in a firm but loving manner. And all of this flows out of a command given to each and every one of us in I John 4:1, the command is to “test the spirits.” Our response to this command will determine much in the years to come. This is Westminster Christian Academy! Is it worth all the effort, sweat and tears? The answer is yours. I already know mine.

Personal Responsibility

2011-08-04T22:47:00.003-05:00

Have you noticed lately that nothing is our fault? We, Americans, tend to blame everyone... else for our issues. It was the car, the dog, the rain, the food, the waiter, the store, that lousy road, Monday, too much stress, the school, too much on my plate, Murphy... but it is not my fault. What has happened to personal responsibility? Where is it? Is it gone for good?

If something goes wrong there is a reason outside and away from who we are as a being to blame. It is almost as if we can't take the idea that we are to be responsible; that our actions "could" have negative consequences. That is kind of, stay tune for a technical word here, "nuts," don't you think. But, we are more than happy to take credit where credit is not do to us. We like to be patted on the back and told how great we are, when, we really aren't that great. What?

We tend to take too much credit for the good things and are averse to taking any credit for the negative things... ahhh! What does that say about who we are as people? What does that say about the leaders we elect? What happened to "the buck stops here?" What happened to leaders standing up and taking on the tough issues? What happen to leaders who worry about the greater good and not just their own good?

Back when I was younger (yes, still fighting the aging process), I remember when it was taboo for lawyers to advertise, to default on your loans or to even borrow money. Now, these all appear to be strategies and accepted by most Americans. In 2010, there were 1 million foreclosures. That is a million people who didn't pay back the money loaned to them. How do you do that? In 2011 it is predicted that another 1.2 million will do the same thing. Now, here is the crazy thing; in one article it stated that this is becoming a common strategy, people actually plan strategically to default on their loans when they can easily pay them because they didn't like the house or the terms. I can't even get my mind around that. What do you do with that information? That is 2.2 million loans that will not be paid back. Shake it upside down or right side up... it is not good. I don't care how big your economy is, not getting that kind of money back is going to hurt and hurt for a long time.

This has got to be a condition or something because there must be a correlation between the absence of personal responsibility and believing stuff that... just... does... not... add... up. My feeble attempt at irony here... trying to come up with a condition for the lack of personal responsibility. I know... weak. Anyway, back to my satirical diatribe, nothing is free; there is no such thing as money for nothing. And, our blame tends to have no walls. If we can't find someone to blame today we now have the ability to go back in our past and find people to blame. Where does it all end?

What does an absence of personal responsibility produce? Look around; what do you see? Everyone is now the enemy, and no one trusts anyone. Leadership has all but dried up and our current economic, educational, spiritual and international status is reflective of this. Someone must step up and sacrifice for the greater good in order to right the ship, and the cost will be personal and the responsibility will be even more personal. The job will be thankless, not popular and hard with little reward or fanfare. Who would take such a job? John the Baptist did. Paul the Apostle did. Peter the Apostle did. William Carey, lifelong missionary to China did. Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador did.

What about you? When things get hard, will you take the heat? Will you own up to the issue being yours, or will you seize the first opportunity presented and pass it on to someone else? Hard questions demand honest answers. Blessings!

It is that time...

2011-07-30T20:47:00.003-05:00

It is that time once again... you know, time to start another school year. As schools across the country begin classes in the next few weeks, join me in praying for all of our schools and all of our faculty, staff, students and parents.

Each school year holds new promises and renewed hope, but as I think about these concepts - promises and hope - I am struck by the fact that neither of them are rooted in the time of the year. No, they are rooted in the institution of school and its process of education. Education in America is our panacea for all that is wrong in our country. Certainly, our schools can not solve all of our problems, but right now, they are all that we have. The opening of all schools comes at a good time; maybe they will draw our focus away from the current crisis and on to more important things... like our children. I am praying for all our children, that this year would be a wonderful year full of fulfilled promises and increasing hope. Blessings!

The Federal Debt

2011-07-29T22:34:00.003-05:00

Read it and weep. This is what all the angry rhetoric has been about for the last week. It is not a pretty picture, and according to many, will not get any better looking anytime soon. I try to stay away from politics as much as possible, but this issue is too big, too important to ignore. I truly believe if Congress does not get this right you and I will experience the effects within two years and our country will have changed forever.

What is unsettling to me are comments by Harry Reid, D- Nevada and Chuck Schumer, D- New York regarding a balanced budget amendment. Both men think a balanced budget amendment is an outlandish request with Schumer actually referring to the idea as poison pills.

As I prepare to pay more taxes, higher interest rates and higher prices, one thing I am not prepared to do is give those who can not even think on the idea of a balanced budget more money. I think this is just one more example of how truly out of touch those in DC are. They share none of our burdens and will be exempt from most of the hardships we are about to endure.

A deal will get done; it will not be a deal America needs. It will not be a deal you and I need. It will be a deal that empowers those with power all the more. Will we forget come election time? I hope not because part of the responsibility for this lies at our feet. We have short term memories, easily forgetting those who said one thing and voted for another.

There is a plan that is rooted in this idea of a balanced budget; it is known as the "One Percent Spending Reduction Act or “The Mack Penny Plan.” Rep. Connie Mack explains:

“It’s a bill that says to Congress that you’ll have to cut 1 percent – or one penny – out of every federal dollar for six years,” he explained.

“At a time when so many in our nation are hurting financially, the federal government needs to do its part to cut spending,” added Mack. “The Penny Plan is a straightforward answer to our nation’s overspending problem that asks government to eliminate only one penny from every dollar it spends — a simple solution that all Americans can rally behind. Every time Washington spends more money, our freedom and security are in jeopardy. Voters have continually said ‘enough is enough’ when it comes to Washington’s appetite for spending, and it is time Congress listens."

Do you think this plan will get consideration? I don't either because it makes too much sense. Join me in praying that Congress will do something different this time and think of the country first. If they don't and continue the same pattern I fear our lives will change forever. What we now take for granted... a gallon of gas for the lawn mower, a trip to the beach, a quiet weekend away will all be past memories of ours and distant memories of our children.

Remember the names in the news this weekend. Repeat them often and attach them to what is taking place because, come election time, we must not forget. If we do, we will only have ourselves to blame... again. Blessings!

Nominalism

2011-07-25T00:03:00.002-05:00

Man's conception of reality has changed over the course of history, but no change has made more of an impact than the change that occurred as the result of nominalism.

Nominalism came about as a direct result of one man, William of Occam. It was William that actually proposed this doctrine of nominalism; we know nothing of the collaborative help he received in formulating this doctrine as its epistemological moorings reference only him, but what we do know is disturbing enough. Nominalism denies that universals exist; actually, it goes deeper... denying that their is a source of truth higher than man and independent of man.

Nominalism provides the bridge to several logical leaps. Nominalism serves as the bridge to empiricism and a complete focus on sensual reality, a reality rooted only in the senses. A reality only rooted in the sense of men naturally produces relativism, pragmatism, rationalism and materialism. If men and women define reality through their senses then life becomes fixed to their time and space. We lose our ability to dream and hope because there is no reality outside of the human being. Man begins to act like God and looks to himself for answers and not beyond himself for answers. Philosophy becomes God and any idea must become linked to philosophy to mean anything in the world, and that includes science. Predictably, evolution came along to link science to philosophy and provide the legitimacy science so desperately needed.

Nominalism attacks any form of religion because religion depends on a dimension greater than three. Nominalism plants us in this three dimensional world and forbids any thought of anything not explained by the three dimension we, humans, live and play in each day. Logically and rationally, religion becomes illegitimate and comical because, by its nature, it depends most of those dimensions beyond the three we occupy.

Nominalism is alive and well in our country, in our schools and in our churches. It exists in the form of legalism, power, popularity, entertainment and the list goes on and on. Anytime we root truth in men, things or even time and space we fall into the trap of nominalism. What do we learn when we listen to the world? We only need a good education and logic to have all that we need. Is not the American dream rooted in nominalism? These things are worth thinking and praying about to determine if they present a barrier to the real truth... Jesus Christ. Blessings!

Egotism

2011-07-21T07:48:00.003-05:00

Charles Peguy once wrote, "one may discern, if he has the courage to see what he sees - which is the higher courage - a prodigious egotism." This egotism seems to be a dominant part of the makeup of modernity. Richard Weaver in his book, Ideas Have Consequences, wrote, "this egotism, which is another form of fragmentation, is a consequence of that fatal decision to make a separate self the measure of value." And, that is where we find ourselves today - self is the measure of all value.

Today, it is the individual who thinks of his or her rights before any other rights. It is these rights that justify things we could not possibly justify outside of self. When self is the measure, the world is a fragmented place. The whole picture can not be viewed, only parts are able to be seen, and they are seen only through the lens of selfishness.

It is the irony of it all that paints the best picture for us through the words of Weaver, "...under the conditions of modern freedom the individual thinks only of his rights, he does not refer his actions to the external frame of obligation." There is only one obligation to self, and that is self. A focus only on self is a natural withdrawal from the macro-community to the micro - community which is so much easier because there is only one to please.

Plato said this regarding self:

"the excessive love of self is in reality the source to each of all offenses; for the lover is blinded about the beloved, so that he judges wrongly of the just, the good and the honorable, and thinks that he ought to always prefer his own interests to the truth."

The results of egotism are many, but one of the most glaring is the removal of oneself from the fabric of society. When one effectively does this one still flows through the social channels, but those social channels are merely channels of movement towards more of one's own ways and purposes. Relationships with those different become dry and brittle and are built on one's own way and not the Biblical mandate of God's way.

Weaver writes, "it is the simple nature of egotism to view things our of proportion, the "I" becoming dominant and the entire world suffering a distortion. Once more we are face to face with the fact of alienation from reality." As we look at our world, we see evidence of this everywhere. When we rationalize the current world through this idea of egotism it almost makes sense. Man has forgotten who he is. He is not perfect but flawed; he is not the high but low. He is not creator but created.

What is our answer? Our answer is Truth, which opens its own can of worms. Many will debate versions of truth, but they will do it through their own egotism. If you examine these various versions of truth you will find the ego present, and you will find the particular version of truth built in a way to feed that individual ego... that self. Truth is not selfish; it is selfless. Truth is found in the one who claimed to be truth... Jesus Christ. Read the gospel of John and release the chains of egotism! Blessings!

Discipleship and the Transfer of Knowledge

2011-07-18T19:36:00.003-05:00

Can knowledge be transferred from one setting to another? There are three schools of thought regarding this idea of knowledge transfer.

First, there are those that maintain that students can acquire abstract general thinking skills that allow transfer to take place outside of specific subject-matter domains.

Second, there are those who believe that transfer of general skills is impossible due to that the fact that these skills are bound to, and must be taught, according to precise contexts of processes.

Third, there are still others who believe that the transfer of knowledge is dependent on the individual and the disposition of that individual. C. Brell calls this disposition the "critical spirit" and elaborates on it:

"A concept of critical thinking as transfer... [implies] that teaching for transfer is less a
matter of transmitting knowledge, skills, strategies and principles of thinking... thank of
fostering in students from the start an inquiring disposition, by which I mean a "readiness"
to consider the bearing of apparently discrete frames of reference on one another and
toward the construction of a more integrated world view."

Dewey too wrote of this idea although not in the language of Brell. Both realized that this critical spirit/disposition had to be valued to be effective and impacting.

I agree that this idea of knowledge transfer is heavily dependent on this critical spirit, but where I begin to differ is where this critical spirit dwells. I believe that knowledge can be transferred in various ways depending on the knowledge. And for time and space, I will not go into that aspect at this time, but what I will go into is where this critical spirit dwells for I believe for the transfer of knowledge to be at its highest optimal level this critical spirit must dwell both in the teacher and in the student. How do we achieve that? Well, we achieve that through... discipleship!

When both teacher and student enter the education process with a critical spirit both already value the process both are about the engage. Certainly, the student is at one end of the process and the teacher at the other, but in a properly conducted classroom where discipleship is taking place both should meet each other in the middle of the process. This is true discipleship and true discipleship does not take away from the educational process one bit. As a matter of fact, it enhances it and puts it in the proper position for maximum optimal knowledge transfer.

As is always the case, sincere, honest, excellent research leads us to the truth of God. This is just one more example of that wonderful truth. Blessings!

Zoo People

2011-07-17T21:40:00.003-05:00

We recently took in the Birmingham Zoo, and both my wife and I were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. We were told that the African section was recently renovated, and truth be told, that is the section that was most impressive.

The zoo also featured a sprinkler section as well as food courts and playgrounds. The day we picked to go was... hot! I took a picture of this lion because I felt like doing what he was doing... sleeping.

We are zoo people; we love going to the zoo. We have been to several, and this one was as good as all the others. We have found that each has its own passion. The Birmingham Zoo provided numerous opportunities to get closer to animals than most of the others we have frequented.

So, if you are looking for a good day trip, the Birmingham Zoo is a nice option. Another nice "zoo" option is the Nashville Zoo. Happy Trails!

Compromise

2011-07-15T21:17:00.005-05:00

What do you think of when you hear the word compromise? Weakness, giving in, negativity, losing... are all words that come to my mind when I hear the word, but all are wrong views of compromise.

Defined compromise is "a settlement of differences by mutual concessions." Look deeper and you will find ideas like concession, adjustment and settlement. This idea of compromise as weakness is a recent phenomenon. I believe it flows out of the current "me" society. You see to compromise when it is all about you results in losing because you have to give up something, and to truly compromise means, yes, you have to... give up something.

The church is also guilty of this view. While, certainly, there can be no compromise of God's word because it is God's word, we do find this ideology being attached to other areas of the church as if they, too, are God's word. The church is commanded to compromise in order to get to God's truth. Although, we don't always use a word like "compromise" as it seems out of place. Jesus told us himself to seek compromise, gather with two or more in Him, and He will be there with us. What I believe he was talking about is compromising by way of putting ourselves last in order for our brother's or sister's wishes to be first, then, there is a chance to get to His will and avoid ours. You can't hope to do this if you are always about your wish, your will and your way. That is not compromise nor is it Christian.

The above poster really captures the sentiment of compromise today. So many of us think we are so right and others are so wrong that we don't even know we are imposing our will on others; we do it so effortlessly. I am as guilty as anyone, and yet, when it is done to me I get so upset. Why? I am used to having my own way, as the poster says, because, after all, I am right, aren't I? There is only one problem; when I impose my will on someone else I am not really concerned about God's will for them, am I?

How can we hope to impact the world for Christ if we can not even agree to be "last" to those in Christ? Compromise has been an important part of our history, although at times, a dark part too, but if you will research that dark part of history you will find, as I did, that compromise was not compromise at all.

The next time you are about to compromise, don't panic because God is in control. He truly works better with two or three than just one, and in order for two or three to work together there will have to be... you guessed it... compromise. Blessings!

Age

2011-07-05T22:53:00.005-05:00

Somethings age better than others. Cheese and wine are treated well by age; most other things are not. As I get older, I am beginning to reflect on things of the past... things once taken for granted. Exercise and eating have taken on new importance to me. No longer can I eat whatever I want and still run and lift as I once did. No longer can I increase my exercise and lose weight. Age is the great dividend as it increases other things must decrease.

But, age is also forcing me to reflect on my generation and all that we had. We had it fairly good as a generation. We had good schools, low prices, lots of options, plenty of play and little consequence for our actions. All said, it was a great time to grow up. Now, as my age inches up and up, I have come to some conclusions that you would think I would have known by now.

For instances, as I get older so does everyone else. When I connect with someone on Facebook that I have not seen since high school I am shocked at how they have aged. You would think I would have figured that one out. I am sure they are just as shocked as to how much I have aged.

As I grow older so do my concerns. When I was younger I wore any injury or pain as a badge of honor. The more the pain the more I wanted to go on and continue to play or work. Now, every new pain brings a new concern of something serious.

Age makes no sense to me unless you understand it from a Biblical perspective. The older we get the close we draw to the end, unless you are one of those who rest in Jesus Christ. In Him, you may die to this life, but you will be raised in the end to spend eternity in heaven with Him. This makes sense out of the aging process; nothing else does. Not evolution, not atheism, not any other worldview... none of them provide even a remote explanation of the aging process like Christianity does.

Yes, I am fighting the aging process by running and lifting and watching what I eat, but I am still getting older. The other day I was running around our practice field at a pretty good clip, or so I thought, until one of our football players asked me if that was my warm up lap. My pride kicked in, and I increased my pace... until he disappeared into the weight room. I suspect that our generation will have the hardest time with this aging process because we have had so much. I pray that God will help me handle it with grace and love and be open to being used by Him until the very end. May that be your prayer as well. Blessings!

4th of July Celebration at Coolidge Park

2011-07-04T20:04:00.003-05:00

How does it feel to be part of 20,000 people? Well, not too bad. Chattanooga always puts on a good show for the 4th. This year was more of the same.

We were part of the picture to the right as we sat and listened to music until 9:45 pm. Then, the city provided a wonderful fireworks display as the symphony played Stars and Stripes... it was a great time.

I wish everyone a happy 4th of July. Enjoy the freedoms you have and never forget those who gave so much so you could have those freedoms. Blessings!

Inconsistent Presuppositions

2011-06-25T17:38:00.004-05:00

I admit that I am slightly off when it comes to my view of reality. I have this curse; you know the one... I expect people to say what they mean and mean what they say and have it all come together at the end. I am disappointed more often than not, and many times I am most disappointed in myself. That kind of bizarre thinking brought me to the point of a life change years ago... Christ broke into my life and changed me.

He used this whole idea of consistent presuppositions to open my eyes to His world before me. He made it concise and clear... that He is the only worldview that can be lived out consistently. It is only the Christian worldview that comes together at the end to form a nice neat bow.

You see... the world really is a matrix of sorts. As you and I view the world, we do so through a lens composed of presuppositions. Everyone has them, and they dictate what you believe and support. We believe in one thing and can not fathom how someone could believe the opposite of what we believe with as much passion... presuppositions. Where this matrix idea comes into the equation is where we met this idea of inconsistency.

Inconsistency is usually not a positive thing. If your inconsistent at work, no matter what you do, you will not be doing it long. Inconsistency, defined, is this idea of containing or possessing incompatible elements. If your worldview is inconsistent it is because it contains incompatible elements. When it contains incompatible elements it will not stand alone, that is unless it is secured through a matrix of sorts. We live in a matrix of belief. The media keeps us secure in our inconsistencies by repeating, as much as possible, the truth they want us to believe. We are all so connected that it is quite easy to accomplish this task. Because of this matrix of belief, we have become conditioned to believe what ever we hear the most, regardless of whether it connects to any other truth we have heard in the past. The matrix, if you will, is built on the truth being rooted in those who have the power to repeat at the highest level, with the greatest quantity and the loudest volume.

What all of this has produced is a people who live quite comfortably within inconsistent presuppositions that do not connect and are not even related. Christians are just as guilty as everyone else. We do not live consistent lives either. As I read the gospels, I see Jesus living a life based upon what He believes. His presuppositions all connect and flow out of this idea that He is God. He refuses to let situations and circumstances dictate His actions. Instead, he lets His beliefs/worldview/presuppositions dictate His actions, and they are always consistent, regardless of the situation.

As we watch our country go through some tough times, we watch, first hand, the consequences of inconsistent presuppositions. A government that seeks to remove every moral and godly reference from its public will not get much help when it asks its public to exhibit Christian virtues. The government desires its people to serve and sacrifice for the greater good, yet the greater good was removed from the social fabric of this country long ago. The current fabric is one composed of self, pleasure, entertainment... the individual good. We have been weaving this fabric for years, and it is fairly strong. I am not confident that slamming on the brakes of the current mindset and asking the individual good to sacrifice for the greater good will offer any help. Time will tell!

What is the answer? I know of only one sure answer to all of these questions... Jesus Christ. He was my answer; maybe He is yours! Blessings!

The King's Chair

2011-06-22T07:54:00.004-05:00

The picture in this post is off King Edward's chair. It is found in Westminster Abbey. The King's chair or throne, if you will, was reserved for only one... the king. As I was reading through my devotion this morning, I came upon an interesting quote about the church. The quote was,

"If we, as the “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), would step back into our place, and observe Jesus seated at the Father’s right hand, our church would be transformed into his Church."

As I reflect back on my walk with Jesus, I can see that there are times when I am sitting in a seat reserved for one... my Lord. Those are the times when I need Him in His seat the most yet, my pride rationalizes to the point of justifying my place in that seat.

Whether it be my throne or the church's throne, there is only one king and one throne reserved for that king... Jesus Christ. I wake each morning with a desire to rid myself of the sin that weighs me down and gets in my way, and truth be told, my first movement is not a stride forward. No, it is, instead, a move upward as I push myself to stand up from the throne and move aside so its rightful owner can sit.

My problem... our problem is that we want to be in control; we want to be king. We are sitting in a seat reserved for someone else. When we realize that our best movement is to stand up and move aside, then, and only then, will we make individual progress and collective progress against the sin that holds us prisoner. It is sin that prevents us from being what God created us to be... loving examples of Him. Sitting in the wrong chair puts us in the wrong seat and out of action. Once we get comfortable in that chair it will be hard to get up and back into action. May your first movement be up and not down. Blessings!

More Chesterton

2011-06-20T07:06:00.001-05:00

"The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people."

G.K. Chesterton

Education and Change

2011-06-18T08:08:00.005-05:00

How does education, as a whole, handle change? Change does take place, and it does exercise influence, but maybe, not as you might think.

Change, defined by Webster's is always defined in terms of something occupying time and space. For our purposes today, we will look to the area of philosophy and view change through that lens.

Common definitions of change in the field of philosophy include the idea that change in something implies the passage of time. Aristotle argued that change is different than time because time passes at one consistent rate; change does not. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,

"The obvious move to make when confronted with the fact that things change, is to say with Kant (1781) that they change in relation to time, which avoids the inconsistency. But then another problem emerges. In what sense can one thing persist through change? Identity across time and space is the mark of universals, but we also account particulars such as billiard balls and persons as having self-identity across time."

Now, let's take this concept of change, which is still up for debate as to how to measure it, and factor it in to education, and go forward. We know change exists, but we do not know how to measure it; do we ignore it? How do those in education factor change into the equation? We know students change. We know teachers change. School buildings change and books get old and change. Should change be part of the conversation in regards to the education process?

Education is an abstract idea, if you will, filled with concrete parts hoping to obtain an end product defined by more abstraction. There are universals in education... tests, quizzes, books, teachers and students, but some of these things define the process and some do not. And, each tangible part to this process has change factored into it in some way. We have depreciation costs for our buildings, book fees for our books, tuition for our schools and salaries for our teachers, but where is change addressed for the process of education as a whole?

Over the years, many have contributed to this process in positive and negative ways, but have those who contribute ever consider the power of change on the process? I believe when considering education issues this idea of change must be part of the process because it does weigh influence over the process. Change is a powerful affectation... too powerful to not consider.

The chart in this post identifies certain steps to behavioral change. Whether you agree with them or not matters little to the actual issue of change in regards to you. There is still a tangible element to the process of behavioral change - you- and, therefore, a way to measure change in this process, albeit not perfectly. You are the one that can identify whether the steps worked or did not work. Education does not have this advantage as the process itself has been open to discussion and debate since the beginning of time.

Like some of my past posts, I tend to create more questions than answers. I have no answer to our dilemma of measuring change inside the educational process, but I am making a suggestion that may warrant more discussion. Change must be considered in the educational conversations because it does exist and does weigh influence on the process. If we do not consider it we do a disservice to our children and the educational process as a whole. Stay tune for more thoughts on this subject as I do further reading. Blessings!

College Football or Professional College Football?

2011-06-10T21:32:00.003-05:00

With "The" Ohio State debacle fresh in every one's mind, the rather large elephant in the room must be addressed now. Is it time to pay college athletes, especially football players?

I have always been a huge advocate of this idea of student-athlete because I feel athletics is a great classroom, and, if addressed properly, will contribute to the collective development of the student-athlete. But, and this is a rather large "but," today's student-athletes are being used like mules to rake in millions of dollars. Today, college coaches make millions of dollars a year, universities make millions of dollars from bowl games and conference TV deals and student-athletes still play by the same NCAA rule book from many years ago. This hardly seems fair.

Now, I am not absconding the student-athletes from blame; on the contrary, they must accept their responsibility as well. They do get a free education, room and board, books and all the food they can eat, but again, they are still merely kids, large kids, but kids, just the same. We tend to forget that those who play on Saturdays are 18, 19, 20 and sometimes even 21. Does the school and the NCAA not have a responsibility here to these kids? Is this not like putting a piece of meat on a hungry dog's nose and asking that dog not to eat the meat while you sit in front of the dog and eat meat? Again, we provide them the best equipment, the best dorms, the best food and countless other "legal" perks while flying them all over the country to play games televised to millions of people; we ask them to practice long hours and perform at high levels, and if they do not we fire the coaching staff that has become their segregate family. And, on top of all this, we get upset if their grades are average or failing.

Can we really call these players student-athletes during football season? Maybe a better name for them in season would be independent study athletes because that is what most do during the season. The university hires tutors who go to class and take notes and then tutor the players one-on-one when time allows. What is the solution? I do not know and am not pretending to know. But, I do know this: the room is too small for this ever-growing elephant! Blessings!

Views of Education

2011-06-09T07:34:00.003-05:00

There are many views of education these days. What is education? What is educational reform? Where do we start with the reform? Christian, private and public all look long and hard at education with the same lens and question: how do we improve it?

Warren Smith writes,

"True education reform takes place once the classroom door closes. A recent report by the National Council on Teacher Quality (“Human Capital in Seattle Public Schools”) reinforces this point. The most effective education reform begins and ends in the classroom. Nothing we do at the state level can replace the value of a superior teacher."

If that is true, and I believe it is part of the answer, then the teacher becomes a very important part of the puzzle regarding education. Mr. Smith steps into this puddle and asks hard questions like what makes a great teacher. He writes,

"The best teachers value their students as individuals. Danyell Laughlin, an English teacher in Silverdale, works tirelessly to show students that each one “of them is valuable and has valuable things to share.” Every child is a priority, and because that child is valued, that child values learning.

Our best teachers foster a respect for self and others, a love for learning, and a child’s capacity to dream and achieve those dreams.

The best teachers also believe that each and every child can learn. Their belief in their students is contagious.

The best teachers succeed with all students. They are open and approachable, able to relate to all as individuals and still lead the gathering of those individuals as a purpose-driven class. The superior educator has wall-to-wall impact; children lucky enough to find seats in their classes need not worry about being left behind. That overused term is more than just policy fluff here; it is a daily practice. These teachers are catalysts incarnate, capable of sparking learning in all students."

What he is referencing here is that our best teachers have... Christian values. You will not find the word "Christian" in his article, but you will find those traits all over his ideas about what makes a great teacher. He goes on to write about the idea of mentoring and how all teachers must be mentors; sound familiar?

As the world struggles to find plausible solutions to our educational issues, those sincere in their pursuit will stumble onto truth at times. And, that truth will always be rooted in Christ. The rest of his article is worth reading. Blessings to all!

Educational Equality

2011-06-03T19:39:00.008-05:00

Well, summer is finally here, and I, for one, am gratefully. It has given me a chance to think a bit on the future of education, and this notion of equality. Is it really possible to provide everyone a high quality education?

Let's first start with the idea of equality; what do we mean by educational equality? Do we mean equal opportunity, equality of outcome, equality of condition, equality before the law... all of which are social concepts. Or, do we mean logical equality, as in math? For our purposes here, I will simplify our discussion by assuming that we are speaking in terms of equal opportunity. I make this assumption because I believe looking at educational equality through this lens is really what we should do. I am sure you are wondering what I mean. Let me explain.

The vast majority of education provided to the majority of students in this country is education designed in accordance with education of the past. Education has always been about indoctrination; early in our history its purpose was indoctrinating the many into citizens of this country. It was a process rooted in content, repetition and memorization, and its purpose was clear... citizenship. A process rooted in content produces students who learn the content and reproduce the content. While this is good, it is not going beyond the surface. Memorization is only the beginning of thinking that is abstract. Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning, which is found in his Cognitive Domain, identifies memorization and comprehension as the first step in a five step process of thought and decision making. Once memorization and comprehension are mastered students are to move to higher levels of thought like analysis, synthesis, application and discovery. A process that is still rooted in content produces students who are, in essence, the same. and educational equality is achieved, as all students will know the same content. In my opinion, that is not equality; instead, that is standardization.

Educational equality needs to be equal opportunity. We should be providing students with the skill sets that will put them in position to learn anything, which provides them all equal opportunity to a bright future. But, be warned, even if we do provide an education that readies students for a bright future, there will never be equality. Even if all students take advantage of this equal opportunity, will all students reach the same place... the highest level? Statistically, no, that is impossible. To borrow a wonderful line from the Pixar classic, The Incredibles, "if everyone becomes great then no one really is great." The reality is this: the only way to make everyone equal is to lower the standards and make everyone... average. An educational process rooted in content will do that, but one rooted in skills and excellence that is qualitative will provide each student with the opportunity to soar.

Isn't that what we should be doing? We can not provide every student with the education they need unless every student is motivated to get that type of education. Education, especially high school education, requires as much from the student as from the teacher. A teacher can not make a student want a great education. There will be a personal responsibility on the part of the student that is an important part of the process, and that aspect is usually instilled in church and home.

Educational equality, in my opinion, should be educational equal opportunity. Every student should be given the opportunity to learn how to think, discern, think critically and in higher categories and work hard in order to position themselves to reach their dreams. Have a great summer!

More Chesterton...

2011-05-29T07:34:00.001-05:00

G. K. Chesterton has so many good quotes. Here is another to enjoy.

"There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person."

G.K. Chesterton

The Great Dialogue

2011-05-07T08:35:00.002-05:00

The longer I live the more convinced I am that we must all learn to dialogue in a better way. There are too many of us who are convinced that we are right. When you think you are right about everything you tend to talk to people instead of with people.

Our world is changing and with it we are changing. There are so many different views that are competing for attention that if we do not learn to dialogue with each other we will just keep dividing into different polarized factions.

A dialogue is a conversation between two or more persons. It is not one person telling the others what to believe and what to think. I have caught that tendency in myself - talking to others instead of with others. Someone once told me that you have two ears and one mouth for a reason. As I listen to the news and to myself, I can see clearly that the art of listening is second to the art of telling and talking.

We are so worried about our views being heard that we tend not to be concerned about other views, especially when we are convinced that ours are right. The major issue with that is it tends to make us self-centered instead of other-centered. Jesus was clear on that one, "love your neighbor as yourself."

As a Believer in Christ, my desire is to be part of the great dialogue in order for Christ to work through His unifying power in me and others. Truth is found in Jesus Christ and in Christ in us; it is not found only in us. Paul, Peter, James and the list goes on... all were eager to dialogue with those who knew the truth and those who did not know the truth for one reason: to give the Holy Spirit a chance to work through them in others for the glory of God. Blessings!

Curfew

2011-05-03T21:06:00.004-05:00

I have traveled to various parts of the world. I have spent time in the Middle East, Europe, the Ukraine and Mexico, and I have always thought that I would experience a dusk-to-dawn curfew in one of those places. To experience this in my own country, my own backyard, if you will, was a first and a surprise. As I drove around the other night, frantic to get back home before "curfew" kick in, I noticed quite a few people out and about. I made some mental notes that I would like to share with you.

All store employees seem to LOVE curfew. I was in one unnamed store around "that" time and was told on more than one occasion... "we are closing for curfew in 30 minutes." I have never had more conversations with happier store employees... ever.

As I stopped at stop lights, some working, some not, I took in the facial expressions of those next to me. Those older drivers seem intent on getting through the light with grim determination in order to return home before "martial law" kick in for the night. Those my age seemed intent on moving towards home in order to submit to the authorities, and then, there were those younger drivers. They seemed like they had no desire to go home for the evening, but there was nothing else to do because everything is closed anyway so... might as well go home.

A curfew is certainly not law in this case , but in some ways, we need something like a curfew to force us to do things we ought to do. I spent more time in my neighborhood with my neighbors than I usually would have. I offered more people help and was willing to part with more of my stuff. I was more willing to let other people help me. I was more cautious. I was less likely to be in a hurry. I was more willing to stop and look at the blue sky. I am more content than I have been in a while. And, all of this because I was forced to be home because of a curfew.

I wonder why it takes something like a curfew instituted in response to a tragic event to get us to slow down, enjoy life and each other. Why can't we do this on our own? The question speaks to the nature of our heart, and to the reason we need a Savior. Blessings!

Tornado

2011-05-02T21:39:00.004-05:00

I have lived in Alabama for the last four years, and, for the most part, I have enjoyed the experience, that is until last week. I can't say that I enjoyed last Wednesday one bit.

We all heard the warnings and the concern... this was suppose to be one of those rare days when all the conditions were right for severe storms or tornadoes! Well, as I have said, I have lived here for four years and have heard these warnings before only to have them not turn out as bad as the forecast.

The day began with a delayed start to our school day, following county and city lead as is our policy. I had been up since 4:30 trying to get some idea on what we were in for during the day. I was checking two websites, two news stations and the radar with the hope of getting one of them to give me a time frame concerning when the really severe weather was going to hit. To my frustration, no one could provide that information because storms began to pop up everywhere. By the time we evacuated the campus and I walked through my front door, it was 1:30. I truly thought the worst part of the day was behind me; how wrong I was.

From 1:30 - 3:30 rain and wind came and went. The weather radio went off every 10 minutes or at least it seemed that way. Around 4:30 our power went out, and we were without radar, news and updates. We had the NOAA weather radio which was keeping us informed but nothing more. I had hired our new high school principal a month earlier, and he was from Oklahoma City. He was keeping us updated with texts to my phone as he watched the news and radar. It was surreal that someone so far away had more information than we did at this time.

The sirens went off quite often throughout the afternoon. Each time they went off into our little storm shelter under the stairs went the kids and sometimes my wife. She would usually join me at the window or out on the porch as we watched for coming weather. I don't know why we did that... maybe we thought if we watched closely, that would be enough to keep the severe weather away.

Late in the afternoon another siren blast sent our kids into our shelter once again. My wife and I went to the porch to see what was the cause of this siren. What we saw gathering in the clouds over our neighborhood actually sent me to the shelter first. She stayed a few more seconds to snap a few pictures and then joined us in the shelter with wide eyes. We sat there looking at each other trying to remain calm for our children yet expecting any minute to be hit with the brunt of high winds. Thankfully, they never came.

The day extended to evening and finally, mercifully, around 8:00 the last of the storms left Madison County. It was a Wednesday that I and many others will never forget. Madison County was hit hard, but not as hard as Tuscaloosa, Phi Campbell, Hackleburg and Mount Pleasant. We were truly blessed and spared any real damage to our home and our street.

Sometimes the Almighty allows things to happen that do not make sense at this moment in time. This would be one of those times for me. I have read many comments regarding God and tornadoes... "how could a loving God allow such tragedy to happen?" For me, that is the wrong question. The right question is this: why does he not destroy us all? He is a holy just God who demands perfection; we are clearly not perfect so why not wipe us off the map and start over? We all start over with our attempts at prose, artwork and song all the time; why not God? I will tell you why! Because, He is also a loving God who saw our problem... ourselves... and provide a path back to Him. He knew we could not get back on our own due to our sin so He sent His only Son to be our path back. To save us from ourselves so we can come back to our Creator through His perfect Son and His perfect record.

Nonsense! Craziness! Those are some of the responses to this idea of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Craziness... really, who would make up something like this? The first shall be last... love your neighbor as yourself... give your life as a ransom for many... give away all your possessions... what benefit does one get for inventing this kind of "religion," especially if it was really a lie?

Is it time to consider who Jesus is? Examine the gospel of John and ask God to reveal Himself to you! Blessings!

Another Funny Sign

2011-04-16T08:16:00.004-05:00

I saw this amusing sign, and I thought it was a creative way to make an important point. I would definitely stay out of that yard!

Hard Work

2011-04-13T18:33:00.003-05:00

There is value in hard work. The Bible states it, and so do a lot of others. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book, Outliers, has a chapter titled, "10,000 hours." In this chapter he highlights, very well, that 10,000 hour mark seems to be the line of success. Those who practice their craft to the point of this mark tend to be successful and the best in their business.

Gladwell references the Beatles and Bill Gates, two giants in their respective industries, as prime examples of the idea that hard work pays off. Both exceeded the 10,000 hour mark prior to their enormous successes. And, both attribute their success to hard work and long hours of practice.

Hard work tends to instill the trait of perseverance and diligence, two traits also present in most successful people. This idea of falling into success is wrong. The idea that those who are successful have somehow stolen their way to the top is also wrong. Granted, there are those who may have risen to the top in this manner, but they are the very few and not the many. Those who are successful are successful for many reasons, but one the main reasons is the idea of hard work.

I am starting to see this idea of hard work losing popularity. I am seeing and hearing that if you have to work hard there is something wrong with you or someone else. Nothing comes to us easily, and nothing will. We, as a country, need to instill this idea that hard work has value and is worthy of emulation for many reasons, but none more important than it is what we are called to do. It is what God did in the first six days of creation. It is what God created Adam to do, and it is what He creates us to do. We are to work hard and to do it all for His glory! Blessings!

Existentialism

2011-04-10T21:11:00.005-05:00

Existentialism is really hard to define. If you don't believe me, just go ask your philosophy professor in college. He or she will claim to believe in existentialism, but then, will pause, and give a definition that contains more questions than answers. Why examine it here? There is really only one reason to examine it... it is the perfect example of the current dominant worldview in Christ as well as outside of Christ.

Gordon Marino edits the book, Basic Writings of Existentialism, and he writes in his introduction this:

"While there is a long tradition in philosophy of believing that knowledge must be grounded in experience, existentialism tries to get at experience from the inside out."

This whole idea of existence is part of existentialism. Before the name came into vogue, the movement was referred to as "existence philosophy." Jean-Paul Sartre was the first to write anything significant on defining the term. Sartre is clear in his own beliefs, there is no god, but in his definition of existentialism he can not escape the idea as he claims that there is still,

"at least one being in whom existence precedes essence, a being who exists before he can be defined by any concepts, and that this being is man, or, as Heidegger [Martin] says, human reality. What is meant here by saying that existence precedes essence? It means that, first of all, man exists, turns up, appears on the scene, and only, afterwords, defines himself... Not only is man what he conceives himself to be, but he is also only what he wills himself to be after this thrust toward existence."

What Sartre is saying here is that humans have no preexisting essence and must define themselves. He believes we define ourselves through our choices in life as we exist. Freedom, choice, alienation and rebellion are but a few of the common themes shared by those who dwell in existentialism. This is a thrust back to concrete experience and the question of whether there is actually anything beyond our experience. This idea should be one that we Christians flee as fast as we can, but my fear is this: too many of us, yes, even those of us in Christ, embrace this notion without even knowing it?

Soren Kierkegaard is often considered the author of existentialism, which is a bit odd due to the fact that Kierkegaard was a Lutheran and strongly influenced by Martin Luther. Kierkegaard provides the best example of what is currently our issue in his thoughts on faith. He writes,

"Faith is precisely the paradox that the single individual as the single individual is higher than the universal, is justified before it, not as inferior to it but as superior - yet in such a way, please note, that it is the single individual who, after being subordinate as the single individual to the universal, now by means of the universal becomes the single individual who as the single individual is superior, that the single individual as the single individual stands in an absolute relation to the absolute."

I think my mind just exploded; how about yours?

Certainly Kierkegaard has other things in his mind that my feeble mind can not break down adequately to fit into this space, but he does provide support for one thought. Faith is not rooted in our existence, yet, that is what we do... we root it in our own existence. And, when we do Kierkegaard believes faith will forever be a paradox because defined according to our existence means "faith has never existed because it has always existed or else Abraham is lost." In other words, faith in Christ is not; faith is in us and has always been in us.

What does faith rooted in us look like? Well, we tend to take the truth of the gospel and use it as if it was ours. We begin with this "faith" which is really more about trust and less about truth, but we turn it around to mean truth. Then, we take this truth, that is really this "faith" rooted in our own existence, and we use it to begin to define the other existences we touch. Those of us with this "faith" believe that our existence is right and true so every time we run into an existence that differs with our own we tend to think it is wrong because ours "just has to be right." We define reality according to our own terms, but when we do this we miss one of the most fundamental truths spoken by our Lord... the idea that He is with us when we gather in His name. He alone defines reality and truth, and our lives are daily struggles to continue to let Him define it despite our sin nature fighting us all the way.

Faith is a belief and trust in our King, the Lord Jesus. It is He who defines reality. Our faith is a growing trust and belief that we can live by His words, His promises and His commands. This side of heaven we struggle to believe that daily as doubt creeps into our minds. We push the doubt out with different things, much of which is good, but some is not. Existentialism is something we can use to push that doubt out of our mind if we are not carefully. It will push that doubt out, yes, and replace it with something much worse... pride, arrogance, individualism, rebellion and alienation to name just few.

There are so many things to be wary of these days. I can not fathom living life without daily guidance from the Lord. May He be your guidance one day too. Blessings!

"

The End of Christian America?

2011-04-02T20:33:00.002-05:00

A while back Newsweek came out with a very interesting article on Christian culture. The article was full of statistics pointing to an apparent solid fact that the Christian influence in our general culture is in decline. The story quote R. Albert Mohler Jr.—president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his concern over one sentence out of the whole report.

"But as R. Albert Mohler Jr.—president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the largest on earth—read over the document after its release in March, he was struck by a single sentence. For a believer like Mohler—a starched, unflinchingly conservative Christian, steeped in the theology of his particular province of the faith, devoted to producing ministers who will preach the inerrancy of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means to eternal life—the central news of the survey was troubling enough: the number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation has nearly doubled since 1990, rising from 8 to 15 percent. Then came the point he could not get out of his mind: while the unaffiliated have historically been concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, the report said, "this pattern has now changed, and the Northeast emerged in 2008 as the new stronghold of the religiously unidentified." As Mohler saw it, the historic foundation of America's religious culture was cracking."

The historic foundation of religious culture in our country has been cracking for a long time, but the crack is not just limited to our country. When sin came into the world in the garden, the crack began and continues until the Lord returns. There is a shift taking place away from order and structure, but that shift has been taking place since the beginning of time. As I read this article, my sense is that our country is struggling with the same things it has always struggled with, but with one exception... we now know about it. There is so much information available about every topic that we can now know trends and shifts while they are taking place. This article gives us almost too much information. For example,

"According to the American Religious Identification Survey that got Mohler's attention, the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent. The Jewish population is 1.2 percent; the Muslim, 0.6 percent. A separate Pew Forum poll echoed the ARIS finding, reporting that the percentage of people who say they are unaffiliated with any particular faith has doubled in recent years, to 16 percent; in terms of voting, this group grew from 5 percent in 1988 to 12 percent in 2008—roughly the same percentage of the electorate as African-Americans."

I am currently engaged in doctoral studies at the University of Alabama and have also done work at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and I will tell you, if I learned one thing it was this: you can make numbers dance. You can make numbers say exactly what you want them to say, if you choose. Now, I am not saying that this article does that, but there is a risk of that anytime you take a survey and promote it as a representation of the general population. And, this article does take surveys and apply them to the general culture and population.

So, a word of caution, don't always believe what you read. This article contains the following statement, "Meanwhile, the number of people willing to describe themselves as atheist or agnostic has increased about fourfold from 1990 to 2009, from 1 million to about 3.6 million. (That is about double the number of, say, Episcopalians in the United States.)" But, I will tell you this: even though the statement reflects a tone of absolute... it is not. It is a general statement. God is still on His throne and in control.

I am reading Nehemiah these days and, to be totally honest, it reads a lot like today. And, we all know how that ends! God is still the same yesterday and today. May we glorify Him! Blessings!

The Alabama State Capitol and Horace King

2011-03-26T09:11:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I went on a school trip with my son to Montgomery, the state capital of Alabama. We did many things, but one of my favorites was the Capitol. The history of the Capitol itself is quite interesting. The picture in this post is of one of the two famous floating staircases in the capitol building.

Horace King is the architect of these beautiful staircases. They are both, in my opinion, pieces of artwork. They are built into the building with no visible means of support other than the building. I came home intrigued by who Horace King was. I did a little research and discovered that Horace King was a interesting and brilliant man.

King was considered one of the most respected bridge builders of the 19th century, constructing dozens of bridges in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. He was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1807; he became a prominent bridge architect and construction manager in Alabama and Georgia before purchasing his freedom in 1846. At this time, slaves were given no respect and no rights; for King to receive such respect had to mean that his work was beyond brilliant.

Despite his enslavement, King was allowed a significant income for his work and, in 1846, used some of his earnings to purchase his freedom from his master. However, under the Alabama law of the time, a freed slave was only allowed to remain in the state for a year after manumission( the act of a slave owner freeing his or her slaves). Robert Jemison, who served in the Alabama State Senate at the time, arranged for the state legislature to pass a special law giving King his freedom and exempting him from the manumission law. In 1852, King used this freedom to purchase land near his former master.

In 1849, the Alabama State Capitol burned, and King was hired to construct the framework of the new capitol building, as well as design and build the double spiral entry staircases. King used his knowledge of bridge-building to cantilever the stairs' support beams so that the staircases appeared to "float", without any central support. These must be seen to be appreciated.

As the Civil War approached in 1860, King opposed secession of the Southern states and was a confirmed Unionist. After the outbreak of the war, King attempted to continue his business as an architect and builder, constructing a factory, a mill and a bridge in Columbus, Georgia. While working on the Columbus bridge, King was conscripted by Confederate authorities to build obstructions on the Apalachicola River, 200 miles (320 km) south of Columbus to prevent a naval attack on that city. After completing these obstructions, King was tasked to construct more defenses on the Alabama River.

By this time, Columbus had become a major shipbuilding city for the Confederacy, and King and his men were assigned to assist construction of naval vessels at the Columbus Iron Works and Navy Yard. In 1863-64, King built a mill that provided cladding for Confederate ironclad warships. King's crews also provided lumber and timbers for the Navy Yard, and were involved in the construction of the CSS Muscogee, a southern ironclad ship.

As the war approached its end in 1864, many of King's bridges were destroyed by Union troops, including Moore's Bridge, which King owned. Union troops under Union general James H. Wilson assaulted Columbus in April 1865, burning all of King's bridges in the city, including one he had finished less than two years earlier.

Within six months after the war's end, King and a partner had constructed a cotton warehouse in Columbus and, for the third time, rebuilt the original Godwin-King bridge. Over the next three years, King would construct three more bridges across the Chattahoochee in Columbus, a major bridge, two large factories, and the Lee County, Alabama courthouse. In 1867, King became a registrar for voters in Russell County, Alabama. Later that year, he attempted to establish a colony of freedmen in Georgia. While that plan was unsuccessful, King went on to be elected to Alabama's House of Representatives in 1868 as a Republican representing Russell County.

King left the Alabama legislature in 1872 and moved to LaGrange, Georgia. In LaGrange, King continued building bridges, and expanded his business to include other construction projects, specifically businesses and schools. By the mid-1870s, King had begun to pass on his construction activities to his five children, who formed the King Brothers Bridge Company. King's health began failing in the 1880s, and he died on May 28, 1885 in LaGrange at the age of 78.

Horace King was a brilliant and an amazing man. Blessings!

Consumer Debt

2011-03-18T20:25:00.004-05:00

The Federal Reserve reported some good news this month; consumer debt is declining. Suspicious? I am and maybe for no good reason, but just the same, I thought I would do a little digging into the numbers to see what I can see. If consumer debt is declining I want to know why because I still know too many who are struggling because of unemployment and underemployment, and they are not in position to pay any debt down anytime soon.

I found a great article about this very issue. The article states the following facts about consumer debt:

U.S. consumer debt is declining, though at different rates among different groups of borrowers.
Defaults or bank write-offs account for most of the drop in debt over the past two years.
Borrowers with weak credit scores paid down auto loans in 2010, while those with stronger scores increased borrowing.
A similar pattern holds for mortgages in 2011.

The drop in consumer debt could mean any number of things, but it is premature to celebrate it as "good news." Moody's has a good analysis of what these numbers mean according to their views. They go into great detail, and they have published their views in an article that you can access HERE. Read it and see if you agree with their assessment. Blessings!

Politics... Who Do We Support?

2011-03-15T22:50:00.004-05:00

I think I have had enough of politics. As I listen to Democrats tell me that Republicans are liars and to Republicans tell me that Democrats are liars, I really have reached a point of not believing any of them about anything. I'll be you are in the same boat, so... what do we do? How do we wade through all the muck, I love that word, and figure out who is the lesser of two evils? Well, here is my take for all its worth which isn't much.

I am firmly planted in the middle class so when I vote I vote with a mindset of who is least likely to mess with my bottom line. Democrats clearly believe that government is the best mechanism in today's world to protect all of us. I do not think any Democrat would disagree with that statement. The Republicans are for the wealthy and for those in the upper middle class and above. They believe in less government and more power for the people, specifically people in the upper middle class and above. They too would not disagree with that. So, which one is best for me?

Here is my take on both. First, I am not a big fan of more government because government has to be run by... people. As much as Democrats say they are for the people and not for big business and the wealthy, they can not deny this: they are for big government. I am not convinced big government is any better than big business. As a matter of fact, I think big government is far worse. Why? Government can not, despite the claims of many, even the playing field. Government can not re-distribute wealth and can not right the wrongs of the oppressed for one simple reason... government is not God. As soon as you level the playing field for one group you have made it uneven for another. Government is not the solution and has never been the solution. The Greeks, the Romans, the French and the list goes on of the many who have discovered absolute government corrupts absolutely because man can not handle absolute authority.

Stop for a moment and try and think about your life over the last ten years and answer this question as honestly as you can: who has caused more harm in our country, big business or big government? Now, before you think I am letting the Republicans off the hook, let me say a word about them. I see them in the same light as Democrats. They have been for big business and the wealthy and have compromised their principals in more ways than the Democrats. Most are not conservative even though they claim to be, and most are also for more government because it gives them more power. So, as a middle class member who should I support?

Well, here is how I look at it. If I have to support one it will be the one who understands that the real checks and balances come from pure competition. Currently, the United States has a national debt of 8.68 trillion. In the U.S., this is 60.8 percent of the American GDP. The gross domestic product of a country is the market value of all of the products and services that a country produces in one year. This includes spending that is done by the citizens of the country and by the government of that country. It includes the value of items produced within the county and exported elsewhere, but it does not include the value of any imported items. I worry when a capitalist democratic economy built on the checks and balances of competition has one entity, the government, occupying over 60% of the GDP. A further complication to this delicate equation is this: the government is not subject to the checks and balances of all other entities in a free market economy because the government is that entity which governs the rules and laws that oversee that free market.

So, who will I support if both Democrats and Republicans are corrupt? I have to support those who support smaller government for our future. I do not believe more government is the answer for one simple reason... the nature of man. Scripture is fairly clear about mankind, Romans 3:23 states that "all are sinful and fall short of the glory of God. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 warn us of the same issue, "there is a way that seems right to man but in the end it is the way of death." History also paints a terrible picture of the consequences of absolute, all-consuming government.

In the end, those who are for smaller government and more competition must receive our support for they know the nature of man. How will you decide who to support? We can no longer vote the party line. We must be for those who understand man for all that he is outside of the Savior, and all that he can be walking with the Savior! Blessings!

Earthquake

2011-03-12T19:29:00.008-06:00

The earthquake that devastated Japan was the strongest recorded earthquake the island nation has ever had. The picture in this post is part of Japan's earthquake warning system.

Here’s how it works:

Seismometers detect the first shock wave. Computers analyze the wave and estimate how powerful the second one will be. If that wave is estimated to be more powerful than a certain threshold (”lower 5″ on the local scale), an alert is issued.

The image reveals the number of shock waves Japan's system detected, recorded and then issued warnings for. As you can see... the entire nation was affected by this earthquake.

According to CNN, "The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis." The effects are hard to comprehend.

This will certainly be the number one topic on most news programs over the next few weeks. May we be reminded to pray for the nation of Japan and others affected every time we see or hear about this over the next several weeks. Let us all keep these people in our prayers for the foreseeable future. Blessings!

Is Class Mobility Possible?

2011-03-05T22:32:00.005-06:00

Is there such a thing as class mobility? Some will say yes, and others will say no. What do you say? There are many answers out there that say many different things.

Isn't this the American dream? My grandfather was born and raised in Trentino, Italy, came to the United States when he was 16 years old and made a better life for himself. But, did he actually move up in class?

The New York Times has an interesting take on class. They have an interactive poll on class that focuses on four continuum which they claim defines class: occupation, education, income and wealth. Click HERE to interact with the article and see where you fall on those four continuum.

But, are those four areas all that there is to defining class? Many would say with passion a resounding no. Class, in higher education circles, is thought of as so much more than socio-economic factors which is pretty much what those four areas cover. Class is thought of through the cognitive, the moral, the emotional... just to name a few other areas of focus.

There is a great blog called Understanding Society. It has some good things to say about this idea of class mobility. I suggest you visit it as I am going to quote it in the next few paragraphs regarding education and class mobility. Understanding Society asks a crucial question: where do children fit?

"A crucial question to pose as we think about class and social mobility, is the issue of the social mechanisms through which children are launched into careers and economic positions in society. A pure meritocracy is a society in which specific social mechanisms distinguish between high-achieving and low-achieving individuals, assigning high-achieving individuals to desirable positions in society. A pure plutocracy is a society in which holders of wealth provide advantages to their children, ensuring that their adult children become the wealth-holders of the next generation. A caste system assigns children and young adults to occupations based on their ascriptive status. In each case there are fairly visible social mechanisms through which children from specific social environments are tracked into specific groups of roles in society. The sociological question is how these mechanisms work; in other words, we want to know about the "microfoundations" of the system of economic and social placement across generations."

At first glance, it would seem simple to assign our country one of the above labels, but is it really that simple. Understanding Society has more to say...

"Education is certainly one of the chief mechanisms of social mobility in any society; it involves providing the child and young adult with the tools necessary to translate personal qualities and talents into productive activity. So inequalities in access to education constitute a central barrier to social mobility. And it seems all too clear that children have very unequal educational opportunities throughout the United States, from pre-school to university. These inequalities correlate with socially significant facts like family income, place of residence, and race; and they correlate in turn with the career paths and eventual the socioeconomic status (SES) of the young people who are placed in one or another of these educational settings. Race is a particularly prevalent form of structural inequalities of opportunity in the US; multiple studies have shown how slowly patterns of racial segregation are changing in the cities of the United States."

I will leave you one more quote from Understanding Society.

Professor Kathryn Wilson, Associate Professor of Economics at Kent State University,“People like to think of America as the land of opportunities. The irony is that our country actually has less social mobility and more inequality than most developed countries."

Well what do you think? I s she right? Is Understanding Society right? Many questions in need of answers, but one thing is certain, the question is no longer as simple as it once was, is it? Blessings!

More Facts on Education

2011-03-04T22:57:00.004-06:00

Here are some facts on education around the world.

One in five adults in the developing world — almost 862 million people — cannot read or write.

Most illiterate persons are female. In more than 20 developing nations, illiteracy rates amongst women exceed 70%.

As much as 115 million children of primary school age are not enrolled in school.

Girls are more likely to be excluded from school than boys when there isn’t enough money to go round. As many as two out of three out-of-school children are girls.

Social traditions and deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs are most often the barriers to expanding girls' educational opportunities in undeveloped countries around the world.

The world needs an additional 18 million teachers to accomplish Education for All by 2015.

Startling Facts...

2011-03-01T20:53:00.004-06:00

Here are some startling facts about our current education system in these United States. I find it hard to believe that a country that won the race to the moon can't solve its educational problems. You might want to sit down before you read these. Here we go...

n 2006, the United States ranked 25th out of the top 30 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations in math and 21st in science.

In 1970, the United States had 30% of the world’s college graduates, now it has only 15%.

On average, an American student drops out of high school once every 26 seconds. 1.2 million students drop out each year.

Throughout the 20th Century the United States led the world in high school completion rates. In 2005, we ranked 21st out of 27 advanced countries.

Each year, the U.S. spends $9,644 per PK-12 students compared to $22,600 per prison inmate.

Barely half of African-American and Latino students graduate from high school, with Latinos graduating at 56%, African-Americans at 54%, whites at 77% and Asians at 79%.

The results of 77 studies, involving over 300,000 students, indicate that parental involvement is associated with higher student achievement outcomes.

What do these facts tell us? First, that we have reached a crisis point. Second, our issues go deeper than with the school. We must also look to the family. And finally, it is time to do something different.

To find out more about these facts and to see more facts, click HERE or go to http://www.edequality.org/

Students and Teachers

2011-02-24T20:24:00.004-06:00

Robert Marzano has an article on this idea of teachers and students. Teacher/student relationships are an important ingredient in any successful education program. Marzano believes that there is a direct correlation between strong relationships between teachers and students and effective instructional strategies. But, his view on how deep these relationships go is open to debate.

Marzano writes, "Positive relationships between teachers and students are among the most commonly cited variables associated with effective instruction. If the relationship is strong, instructional strategies seem to be more effective. Conversely, a weak or negative relationship will mute or even negate the benefits of even the most effective instructional strategies."

What constitutes a good relationship? Marzano writes, "Perhaps the most powerful message from the research is that relationships are a matter of student perception. They have little to do with how a teacher actually feels about students; it's what teachers do that dictates how students perceive those relationships. This fact can be quite liberating. Teachers will certainly have an affinity for the majority of students in their classrooms, but from time to time they may react less positively to a given student. However, this won't really affect how the student perceives his or her relationship with the teacher. The major factor is how the teacher interacts with the student."

I am not sure I totally agree with his assessment. Teachers should care about students in more ways than just as students. Of course, if you teach over 100 students a day there is no way to develop any other kind of relationship. Marzano goes on to cover several actions that teachers can use to convey an attitude that is caring and relational, but shouldn't these actions be authentic? Shouldn't the relationship go deeper than perception? The article in its entirety can be read by clicking HERE. Read it and see what your thoughts are. Blessings!

Funny

2011-02-19T09:00:00.002-06:00

Another funny sign that may be closer to reality than anyone wants to admit.

Trust: Missing in Action

2011-02-11T21:36:00.006-06:00

People just do not trust people the way they used to trust people anymore. Can you blame them? Has the idea of trust changed, or have we become more untrustworthy?

It is said that trust is both an emotional and logical act. Emotionally, it is where you expose your vulnerabilities to others, believing they will not take advantage of your openness. Logically, it is where you have assessed the probabilities of gain and loss, and concluded that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner. In practice, trust is both emotion and logic.

Ideal trust is, in my opinion, a perfect balance of emotion and logic. Each balances the other in ways that do not allow one to dominate the other. This balance is very much managed by environment, culture and people. These three factors weigh heavily on a person's idea of trust. Young children from broken homes have trust issues because nothing in their lives - environment, culture or people - were trustworthy so the natural outcome is that these children grow to never trust anyone. The funny thing about trust is that it tends to lead to true happiness.

I do not think one can be truly happy in life if one never trusts anyone. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines trust in the following manner,

"Trust is an attitude that we have towards people whom we hope will be trustworthy, where trustworthiness is a property, not an attitude. Trust and trustworthiness are therefore distinct although, ideally, those whom we trust will be trustworthy, and those who are trustworthy will be trusted. For trust to be warranted (i.e. plausible) in a relationship, the parties to that relationship must have attitudes toward one another that permit trust. Moreover, for trust to be warranted (i.e. well-grounded), both parties must be trustworthy."

"One important criterion for trust is that the trustor can accept some level of risk or vulnerability (Becker 1996). Minimally, what this person risks, or is vulnerable to, is the failure by the trustee to do what s/he depends on that person to do. The truster might try to reduce this risk by monitoring or imposing certain constraints on the behavior of the trustee; yet after a certain threshold perhaps, the more monitoring and constraining s/he does, the less s/he trusts that person. Trust is relevant “before one can monitor the actions of … others” (Dasgupta 1988, 51) or when out of respect for others one refuses to monitor their actions. Hence, a refusal to be vulnerable tends to undermine trust or prevents it from occurring at all."

Trust requires risk, and in today's world, risk is something we have tried to eradicate in the same manner as polio. People want guarantees not risk. We want to avoid risk because risk is not fun and includes a healthy chance that failure is next. As we try to eliminate risk from our lives, we have, at the same time, begun to erase trust as well. No one realizes this because we truly believe risk is a bad thing. After all, shouldn't all people be guaranteed a home, car and a nice life? Is this not the American life? I am not sure it is.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy references the nature of trust in the following manner,

"When we trust people, we are optimistic not only that they are competent to do what we trust them to do, but also that they are committed to doing it."

I am not sure we are committed to others in the same way we are now committed to our own happiness and well being. Commitment is a part of trust and missing in today's world. Commitment can really not be defined as commitment if the action of committing is aimed at self. If there is not commitment to an other or others then trust is not and never will be developed in full. And the ironic part of all this is that we are eliminating risk in order to move closer and closer to true happiness. What we do not realize is this: our removal of risk has not moved us closer to happiness but farther away.

Trust is missing and slowing disappearing. We are skeptical of most people because of our lack of commitment to our fellow man and that lack of commitment to our fellow man is eroding away the whole idea of trust. One day we will recall, with fondness, what it was like to trust someone and to be trusted by someone. Sadly, that day is closer than you might think. Blessings!

Perspectives

2011-02-09T18:32:00.004-06:00

Perspectives are interesting because everyone has one, and everyone usually has a slightly different one. All perspectives are important and valid. We run into trouble when someone asserts their perspective as reality. While it may be true and real in most instances, rarely is it reality.

The problem, as I see it, is this: how do we determine in our daily lives which perspective to live out? How do we determine if ours is right or wrong? These are hard questions with even harder answers.

If we try and define the word we will find a variety of definitions all contributing to our current connotation. For instance, it is defined as "the state of one's ideas," or "the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship," or "the mental view or prospect." Have I added clarity to this picture with these definitions? Maybe some, but not enough to provide answers to the above questions.

Perspective is really how one takes in the world, interprets it and then, how those interpretations dictate a life lived. Still, we are no closer to determine right perspectives from wrong ones, but I believe that is the wrong question. Sure, there are right ones and wrong ones. Serving your fellow man is morally right while taking your fellow man's life is morally wrong, but that gets us no closer to determining those perspectives worthy of following or those that are "right."

These are the wrong questions. We all have a perspective, but the key to this whole thought is not which one is right, but instead, which ones will be barriers to our communication with each other. I believe our lives should be spent in dialogue about what is right and what is wrong. When one perspective is presented as reality and promoted as reality it limits the dialogue that is vital to life itself.

We are social beings and our calling should be spent honing our ability to communicate with each other not building barriers to eliminate communication. Every barrier that prevents us from sharpening that ability should be addressed because communication is how we live our lives. Examinations of racism, oppression and slavery see these very traits. One perspective is presented as reality, barriers are put up to prevent discussion and all energy and force is used to ensure that the chosen perspective is protected as the right perspective.

I learned this lesson the hard way recently. I am one of those who believe my perspective is right more than it is wrong. You can see right there by that statement that I am already headed down the wrong path. Well, right or wrong, it does not matter when it becomes a barrier to dialogue. Dialogue is the key to life. It is this process of communication that must be protected always. How does one do this? I would suggest taking this question around to others and beginning... a dialogue! Blessings!

Michel Foucault and Power

2011-02-03T21:26:00.006-06:00

As we watch the events of the last week unfold in the middle east, I do not think there is anyone who thinks there will not be some shift of power in the region. Is this shift of power good or bad? I guess it depends... on who you are.

Power is a very unique and different concept. Michel Foucault has some interesting thoughts on power. He writes, "What, therefore, would be proper to a relationship of power is that it be a mode of action upon actions. That is to say, power relations are rooted deep in the social nexus, not reconstituted "above" society as a supplementary structure whose radical effacement one could perhaps dream of. In any case, to live in a society is to live in such a way that action upon other actions is possible-- and in fact ongoing. A society without power relations can only be an abstraction. Which, be it said in passing, makes all the more politically necessary the analysis of power relations in a given society, their historical formation, the source of their strength or fragility, the conditions which are necessary to transform some or to abolish others."

This is the crux of power and why people are willing to risk their lives for it. When we live in such a way that action upon action is on-going and equal then power is in balance and peace reins. However, when one action rules over all other actions, well, then all the other actions await their chance to get back on top of the dominant action. I think this is what we see currently spilling out in the middle east. All these actions have been dominated for so long by one dominant action that there will be no way to control and calm these actions until the one that has been dominant for so long ceases to dominate.

As we watch change take place, we can do so understanding a little more about power. Foucault writes, "In effect, between a relationship of power and a strategy of struggle there is a reciprocal appeal, a perpetual linking and a perpetual reversal. At every moment the relationship of power may become a confrontation between two adversaries. Equally, the relationship between adversaries in society may, at every moment, give place to the putting into operation of mechanisms of power. The consequence of this instability is the ability to decipher the same events and the same transformations either from inside the history of struggle or from the standpoint of the power relationships. The interpretations which result will not consist of the same elements of meaning or the same links or the same types of intelligibility, although they refer to the same historical fabric, and each of the two analyses must have reference to the other. In fact, it is precisely the disparities between the two readings which make visible those fundamental phenomena of "domination" which are present in a large number of human societies."

This American idea of freedom and equality, while constantly criticized, has yet to find its equal. It is a combination that can keep power in check, if allowed. If power is not held in check, the consequences are deep and tragic just ask those in Egypt and Jordan. Blessings!

Educational Monopoly

2011-01-19T21:41:00.002-06:00

Andrew J. Coulson has written an article entitled, "Time to End The Monopoly in Education." His article is written from an economic perspective. He writes, "Far from being an engine of wealth creation, the education system is bleeding the economy to death. The U.S. spends 2.3 times as much per pupil in real, inflation-adjusted dollars as it spent in 1970, but the return on this ballooning investment has been less than nothing."

If you research public education, you will find no correlation between increased spending and increased achievement. As a matter of fact, Coulson states that student achievement at the end of high school has been flat for nearly 40 years. He writes, "Student achievement at the end of high school has been flat for nearly 40 years, according to a recent study by the Education Department, while the graduation rate fell over the same period, according to a report by James Heckman, a Nobel laureate economist." How can that be in a country such as ours?

Coulson is not done; there is more as he writes, "If the efficiency of U.S. public schooling had merely remained at its 1970 level, the country would enjoy the equivalent of an annual $300 billion tax cut. The productivity collapse in education is more than staggering; it's unparalleled. Can you name any other service or product that has gotten worse and less affordable over the past two generations? The reason you can't is that no other field is organized as a state-run monopoly."

Now, I would like to refer back to my history lessons from middle school on monopolies. I was taught that monopolies were bad for our country and bad for our people. Monopolies gave one company an unfair advantage, drove up prices and drove other companies out of business which produced unemployed workers. But, here is the most important lesson I learned in Monroe School in Monroe, Massachusetts about monopolies... monopolies eliminate competition and without competition, mediocrity will soon replace excellence. Could that be on of the problems public-sector education faces? I believe this idea could be worth exploring. To read the rest of this fine article, click HERE. Blessings!

A Unexpected Blessing

2011-01-10T19:03:00.005-06:00

Since my arrival in Alabama, I have been on a mission. My mission was to provide my children with the experience of snow. I was determined to drive as far as necessary until I found snow. Who knew I wouldn't even need a vehicle; I could walk right out my front door and find plenty of the white stuff. This year we were blessed to wake up to a white Christmas; my first white Christmas in over twenty years. I thought that was as good as it gets, but I was wrong again. This week we received another unexpected blessing... more snow.

This is not just any snow but real snow. No light dusting here. No, this snow is real, honest-to-goodness authentic snow... all eight inches of it, and all of it is still on the ground. This morning the whole family frolicked in and out of the snow. We found a hill and, with many others, slide down it for hours. We threw snowballs, built snowmen and walked around in amazement, enjoying this extra special blessing. I was reminded of my own childhood once again.

Having grown up in the western part of Massachusetts, I spent every winter sliding, skiing and playing in the cold New England winter. After going twenty years without any snow, I had forgotten how much fun it could be and how much fun I had as a child in it. As a child, I slid down Monroe Hill Road and went on river walks with my friends. I used to jump off my second story porch with no fear. I would ski in John Passardi's field and go snowmobiling on that same field. I remember after each big storm Kenny would come around with the bucket loader and clean our driveways out... leaving a nice big pile of snow with which to build forts and tunnels. I remember the sight of big snow flakes falling in a night time sky against the street light out my kitchen window. I remember counting the number of times the plow went up and down the road at night to determine if we had school in the morning. If the number was greater than six there would be no school in the morning. I was right more than I was wrong on that one. As I watched my kids slide this morning, all those memories and more came flying back into to my mind.

When your childhood is full of vivid memories like mine I think it is safe to say it was a pretty good one, and mine was. It now serves as motivation for me to give my children their own memories now with the hope that each will be worthy of their recall later. Memories that will be full of color and vivid like mine still are. Memories of eight inches of snow and children and adults sliding in snow that seems more white than I remember. Snow that was not just a dusting but deep, thick, bright white Alabama snow, eight inches deep. As I went outside for a second time, I thought about today and determined that it was a day chuck full those ingredients that produce good solid memories. Hope your day was just as blessed!

Christmas Time

2010-12-24T16:36:00.004-06:00

When we think of Christmas we usually think of snow, presents, family and food. All of those things, while wonderful, would not be part of Christmas if it were not for God the Son. Christmas presents are suppose to remind us of the greatest gift - eternal life given by a loving God to those who believe in His only Son. As you open your gifts this Christmas morning, may each gift remind you of the greatest gift ever given.

I leave you with the truth of Christmas.

Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Merry Christmas to all!

Richard Weaver

2010-12-21T11:23:00.006-06:00

The words of Richard Weaver, in his book, Ideas Have Consequences, are as important today as they were when he penned them in 1948. Weaver writes,

"It is the appalling problem, when one comes to actual cases, of getting men to distinguish between better and worse. Are people today provided with a sufficiently rationale scale of values to attach these predicates with intelligence? There is ground for declaring that modern man has become a moral idiot."

Weaver writes that when no one desires to examine their own lives or accept rebuke for their own actions what is lost is any idea of a superiority of an ideal. I would say that his prediction is amazingly accurate. In today's world, everyone "should" own a home, have a good job, go to college and the list goes on and on. Just thirty years ago, these things were "wants," reserved for the best and the brightest who worked hard and stayed clear of trouble. Today, they are re-classified as needs, given to everyone regardless of their circumstances. How will we ever distinguish better from worse when we can not distinguish needs from wants? It is the first question of many more to come.

Balance

2010-12-11T16:15:00.003-06:00

Life is a balancing act. Every thing we do can be perceived as one thing or the other. Even the good things we do can be perceived in a negative way. It is all about balance. I use the word "balance" here instead of whole or complete because we are part of a stack that requires balance, much like the rocks in the picture. I could use complete or whole if I were "it" in the world, but the reality is that we all have to live in unison with others on this unique celestial ball floating through space.

Each day we walk through our lives interacting with others as we make decisions according to a set of presuppositions. We decide to do something out of our character, and then, are disappointed at the results and revert back to who we were. Others do what is out of character for us and get great results... why?

I think it has to do with balance, remember the spirit with which I use the word. Our lives are balanced by the consistency of our actions. When we act outside of our normal actions, it throws us out of balance to others. Out of balance people get poor reactions from others all the time. For example, are you comfortable with that person who is always pretending he/she is something they are not? Why? These people are never consistent. They are always trying to be what the situation demands. They are never consistent in who they are; they are out of balance. Because they are out of balance, they make us feel out of balance, and we do not like that.

Balanced people make us comfortable because we can count on them to be who they have always been. They are consistent, and consistent people put us at ease. That is why most people do not like change. Change is not the same and can not be counted on to be the same. We don't know what is next when we change, and we have to anticipate. Most of us do not like this for many reasons, but one of the most important is that it puts us out of balance too.

Balance is the key to life, and yet more proof for a Holy God. In the picture above, the rocks are stacked in a balanced way so that they will not fall. Someone put those rocks there. They did not form that pile on their own. We are the same way. Someone had to, first, put us in balance, or there would be no such thing as out of balance. In my opinion, if life were random then random would feel comfortable and natural; it does not. What feels natural to everyone I have met is a balanced life. Chaos is not welcome in our home. and, yet, it is there. We spend our days organizing and cleaning in order to rid ourselves of chaos. Why? Chaos is anti-us. It is the antithesis of who we are. Chaos is the epitome of all things out of balance.

There is only one way to balance life and that way has nothing to do with you. It has to do with Him, the Lord Jesus Christ. Some will snicker, others will laugh and even others with teem with anger at the mere mention of his name, but for what? These same people believe in the power of ... crystals or evolution or something even more bizarre. Balance is the key as the Lord Jesus adds that oar to your boat. He gives you purpose and crutches, if you need them.

Long ago on a dark night in February, the Truth was shared with me, and that Truth was the reality of Jesus Christ. He came into my life and added things I desperately needed... morality, purpose and... balance. How are you doing these days with the balancing act of life?

One of the best...

2010-12-05T14:55:00.000-06:00

Commercials I have ever seen. Enjoy!

The Best...

2010-11-29T21:37:00.002-06:00

I think this is one of the best bumper stickers I have ever seen!

The End is Always a Beginning

2010-11-13T10:00:00.005-06:00

Last week the wonderful ride came to an end. Our football team lost in the second round of the playoffs to finish their season at 10-2.

It was a wonderful season full of firsts. First ten game winning steak! First time we went undefeated at home! First playoff win! And, first playoff loss!

But, this football season was not really about football, but something much more important - life! Let me explain.

Last night it was a football game. Last week it was a cross country meet, and the week before it was a volleyball tournament. If you attended any one event you would have witnessed our students cheering for each other. But, it is more than that.

If you would have taken a step back, away from the crowd and the noise and watched, what you would have seen is students for other students. You would have seen cheering and encouragement and laughing and fun... and all the right kinds of all those things. Am I saying our students are perfect? No! Are any of us perfect? No! What I am saying is that I am seeing students change the lives of other students.

Our goals at Westminster are simple and complex. Simply, we want to provide our students right opportunities to be students in addition to all the other things we do that schools should do. They are not little robotic adults nor should they be. They should have fun, cheer and scream, and when an end comes like a playoff loss, cry and be disappointed. They are students and should be given the time and the right to be students because it will not be long before they are no longer students.

But, our goals are complex at the same time. We are a Christian school that seeks to be an example by engaging the world for Christ. How we do that is certain to be subject of much debate. How we do what we do is important. We say all the time that the process (how we do something) is as important as the product (what we get from doing something).

When an end comes the sting is a little less severe when you have been focusing on the process and not just the product. Football players at state volleyball games... cross country runners at football games... volleyball players at cross country meets... football players cheering the first performance of our marching band... something is going on at Westminster, and that something is Jesus Christ. He is part of all that we do, and He is the difference.

Are we perfect? No! Do we make mistakes? Yes! But, is there a collective spirit of love and genuine concern for each other? Absolutely! Does that come from the world? I would have to say no based on the evidence I have seen. Then, from where? What did Jesus say, you will know them by their love!

The end of one thing always leads to the next. When students are taught the value of the process the ride is all that much more enjoyable. When the end does come, as it always will, the sting is minimal because the product is not the focus and the next process is right around the corner. Blessings!

Too Funny

2010-11-03T21:33:00.001-05:00

You and I

2010-10-28T19:40:00.006-05:00

Have you ever thought about you? What is it that makes you special? Well, you are human and that, in itself, makes you a little special. Whether you believe in evolution or not, as a human, you are pretty special.

You have a thumb that no other animal has. That allows you to do things no other animal can do like... peel a banana, write a thank you letter, paint a picture and an assortment of other really neat things.

You also can think and respond to a thought. That is really special. The rest of the animal kingdom reacts, but we, humans, are thinkers, at least we should be thinkers, which brings me to my current subject... you, or better said, us.

Why do we not think that much anymore? We react, and do so poorly. Whether it be via email or phone calls, we fly off the handle and react before thinking. I have seen it too many times to count, and that is just in reflection of my own poor reactions. Why do we not slow down and respond after careful consideration?

Too many of us do not know who we are, or what our strengths are. We are our own biggest fans and promoters, and do not slow down to listen to our older and more mature brothers and sisters in Christ and their advice. We hurry down our self-prescribed paths assuming we are this only to find out that we are that, and then, end up bitterly disappointed. We wonder how the Lord could lead us down this path so far only to close the door at the last minute. After proper reflection, what we find is that it was our thoughts and ideas that put us on this path and not the Lord's after all.

I have found this to be one of the main reasons for my poor decisions and failures over the years. I have not listened or heeded the Lord's words. I have decided that I am a better judge of who I am, and what my gifts are. As I encounter others like me, I see my issues reflected back at me. We still present ourselves as something we are not, and then become disappointed when all does not work out our way. I have learned the hard way that it is not my decision as to who I am, but the Lord's. What is my responsibility though, is to understand who I am, and what my gifts are and to work hard to use them for His glory.

You and I are special! We were created by a Holy God in His image. Is there anything that can compete with that? I didn't think so! Blessings!

Sportsmanship

2010-10-16T12:33:00.003-05:00

What is sportsmanship? One definition defines it this way: "expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors."

Have we lost our way when it comes to sportsmanship? Slogans like "Just do it" and "Whatever it takes" do not convey the idea of sportsmanship; instead, each conveys this idea of win at all costs regardless of the expense. I believe if sportsmanship disappears from sports all together then the idea of sports will disappear as well.

Athletic events are games; we play games for the sake of fellowship and entertainment. We pay to see others play games in order to see that game played at a higher level, a higher level than we are capable of playing. We pay for the excellence, the teamwork and to see that game at its highest level.

I would suggest that when sportsmanship disappears in a sport so too does its excellence, its teamwork and its high level. When the goal is only to win then standards drop because the goal is to win, at all costs. This attitude erodes away rules, standards, excellence and sportsmanship until the game we have paid to see is no longer worthy of our attention. Why? That game that we thought was played at such a high level may still be played at that high level or an even higher level, but our perceptions have changed because we see it played without rules, without standards and without sportsmanship.

I love athletics, but my prayer is that this idea of sportsmanship would make a strong come back in the professional ranks. We must recognize its importance in the development of our children before its too late because sportsmanship lies at the heart of competition. If it is lost then all athletic competition will be lost. Sportsmanship is what brings athletes back to reality; it is what screams loud and clear that this game we just played... it is only a game. It is not a battle and it does not go on for days. It ends at the whistle or the horn. Sportsmanship declares that someone won and someone lost... for today, but we will play again one day soon. We will play for the love of the game and the sheer joy of playing a game, but we will not let this "game" detract from who we are.

My prayer is that all coaches would understand that in the end it is not who won or who lost that really counts, but how each played the game. Some cliches have not been used enough. Maybe it is time to dust this one off. Blessings!

School Spirit

2010-10-11T20:39:00.005-05:00

How does one define school spirit? This past week was Homecoming Week at Westminster Christian Academy, and I have to say, one of the best weeks I have ever been a part of when it comes to school spirit. Our students were awesome! They came dressed out every day in respectful but fun fashion.

On Friday, we had an unbelievable Pep Rally with our entire school in order to prepare for our Homecoming game that night. Back to this idea of school spirit, you can find examples of it everywhere, but you would be hard pressed to find a better example then the pictures above. Two of our seniors - Robert Sexton and Kendall Bane - took this idea of school spirit to a new level. The flags they hold were made from scratch. They started with two poles and some fabric and a few weeks later took their finished flags into our pep rally to lead the cheers. Well done gentlemen! Thanks for providing a wonderful example of school spirit! Blessings!

Decisions and Priorities

2010-10-05T20:43:00.002-05:00

The decisions we make daily reflect our priorities. While this is a simple enough thought, most of us do not stop and think on it in the busyness of our day. Have you ever thought about what is truly important to you? How would you measure such a thing?

Someone once told me that to measure what is truly important to you requires your checkbook or, in today's world, your credit card balance statement. What you must do is take a tally of your expenditures for the month and totally them up. Once you get your total you merely look at what or who you are spending your money on most, and that is what is most important to you. Speaking from own experience, it works pretty well, and was pretty humbling for yours truly.

As Christians, it is a great way to take stock of where our priorities lie; do we spend more money on the things of our Lord or on the things of this world? Do we spend more money on the eternal things that will contribute to His Kingdom, or do we spend more money on accumulating things in this life for our little kingdoms? Money has a way of revealing who we really are, at least it does in my life. It took a while for me to discover that wonderful truth in scripture, "it is truly better to give than to receive."

There is a bumper sticker that states, "the one with the most toys at the end wins." Sadly, that is how many of us live. I remember being in college and being focused on the red BMW. I wanted to graduate college so I could buy one. How vain was I? I did not care about what I learned or even what job I would land... I just wanted that red BMW. Now, I am not saying that everyone who owns a red BMW is spiritually off-centered, but I am saying that that red BMW was my idol and made me spiritually off-center.

Each day we make decisions, and like it or not, they reveal our priorities. The biggest most important decisions we make in our lives have to do with money. It is just the way life is, at the moment. As you live out each day, I implore you to take stock of your priorities. Are you contributing to His kingdom or building your own? Blessings!

Thinking Out Loud About Life

2010-10-01T00:11:00.004-05:00

Life is not a straight road or even one road; instead, it is a series of decisions. Have you ever thought about what influences those decisions?

You and I have presuppositions that influence each decision we make. Whether we are Christian, atheist, liberal or conservative, it is always the same - what we believe affects each and every decision we make.

I have to chuckle listening to pundits from all sides talk as if they are the only enlightened ones capable of making the right decisions. The only problem with that mentality is this: that is inconsistent with what is currently taught and promoted today. For example...

If there is no such thing as a God then there is no such thing as absolute truth, right? Most today would agree with this statement and the next one. If there is no absolute truth then there is no such thing as right or wrong. Here is where it gets confusing... if each of these statements is correct then how can there be a right answer to any question? If there is no such thing as a right answer then all answers are just forms of manipulation designed to get me and others to go along with some one's selfish ideas, right? So, Sam Harris and his ideas of atheism are just forms of manipulation that he is imposing on me to get me to agree with his ideas and buy his books.

I see no other option. There can be no altruism or service for the greater good because there is no good with no God. Good is the opposite of evil and evil is that which is not good, but if there is no ultimate standard for what is good, which is the way we measure evil, then is there really evil? Yet, we know evil when we see it, why? I would posit that we know evil when we see it because we also know good when we see it, and if that is the case then there must be a standard for what is good. That standard can not be us, nor can we be the standard for evil because humans are examples of both. When one variable is an example for both extremes then that variable can not be a standard for either extreme. So, we are left with this question: from where did the standard for good come? Or, if you prefer the other question, from where did the standard for evil come?

How did we come up with this idea of good vs. evil if there was no ultimate standard for either good or evil? Did we make it up? There is only one real answer here - there is a standard. That standard is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God's son is the ultimate answer to every question you have, if you ask in sincerity and truth. He is the presupposition that will answer every question and put you on the right path. Life is a series of decisions, and as we get older, each decision becomes more important. What is the presupposition influencing your decisions? What should be the presupposition influencing your decisions? Sometimes, thinking out loud... hurts!

Leadership

2010-09-27T20:04:00.003-05:00

What is leadership? Jim Collins, author of one of my favorite books, Good to Great, has a great article on this very topic. According to Collins, it is really a battle between managing and leading.

Collins believes leading is done by vision and mission while managing is done in reaction to situations. I used to think Collins had disdain for the entire idea of management; he does not. As a matter of fact, Collins believes leaders must manage at times too. He writes, "Those who seek to lead but fail to manage will become either irrelevant or dangerous, not only to their organizations, but to society." Peter Drucker once wrote that the very best leaders are, first, managers. What do they mean?

What Drucker was talking about was not leaving out the questions. When we lead we tend to drive forward with little time for questions. Drucker and Collins remind us that questions are important in leadership, and if questions are important, than so too are answers because every question has an answer.

Drucker's ideas all centered on this idea of results, and in order to get results one had to first ask the right questions. Collins believes this drive for answers and results was not just a drive for "a means to an end" but much more. Collins writes of Drucker, "And as much as he wrote about institutions and society, I believe that he cared most deeply about the individual." This is the key to leadership. Management, as an idea, tends to leave this passion for the individual out.

As we examine leadership and management in the field of education, we do so from what I thought was a different perspective - changing the world. What I found inside the words of Jim Collins and the thoughts of Peter Drucker were similar thoughts, ones that surprised me. I do not know why I was surprised, as men of stature, like Collins and Drucker, are leaders because of their passion to change the world in which they live. When confronted with leaders like these my question is always the same: why have they impacted the world while others have not? Collins has an answer for that very question; he writes that "There are two ways to change the world: the pen (the use of ideas) and the sword (the use of power). Drucker chose the pen, and thereby rewired the brains of thousands who carry the sword. Those who choose the pen have an advantage over those who wield the sword: the written word never dies."

And, that is another example of leadership. Leadership is rooted in these concepts of vision, mission and ideas. It is the idea that is molded and shaped into a vision and given feet as a mission that moves an organization forward to change its market and shape the landscape of the world. That is leadership, and it is very different than management.

Good Questions

2010-09-21T23:09:00.002-05:00

I've been collecting good questions lately. Below, I share with you some of the better ones I have collected... so far.

If quitters never win, and winners never quit, who came up with, "Quit while you're ahead"?

Why is it called a TV set if you only get one?

Are you the kind of friend that you would want to have as a friend?

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

North Adams, MA

2010-09-12T22:37:00.002-05:00

Here is a nice picture of downtown North Adams, Massachusetts. This was the big city for me as a kid. I went to high school in this city and began college here as well. I have not been back in a long long time. Finding this picture brings back many good memories of my high school years.

I remember meeting my parents on Main Street after school in the cold winter. I remember hot coffee and Dunkin Donuts after basketball with friends. I remember Jack's Hot Dog Stand and the best hot dogs. I remember playing baseball on Noel Field. I remember enjoying my four years at Drury High School,. I still actually wear an old high school shirt around occasionally. I remember Friday night basketball at the YMCA. I remember Saturday football games and homecoming parades. North Adams will always have a place in my heart, and even though I am far away these days, I still think of her often and plan to visit again soon.

Westminster Football

2010-09-11T10:58:00.004-05:00

Process and Product

2010-09-11T09:17:00.005-05:00

Process and product: these are two terms we use at Westminster a lot these days. We believe the process is actually more important than the product most of the time. What do we mean?

We believe how we do the things we do matters greatly in the lives of our students. The product is part of our thoughts, but it does not dominate our thoughts. Whether it be athletics, drama, band, debate or class, the process is examined in great detail along with the product, and both must be done in an excellent Christ-centered way.

Athletics is a great example. In the paper this morning is yet another story about another coach who bent the rules in order to win. We, at Westminster, want to practice, prepare and play to win, but not at the expense of the process. Because we care deeply about the process, the wins (the product) might take a little longer to achieve, but they will come. And, our students will understand that it is not only about the wins, but it is equally about the work, the lessons, the team and the game.

We, as a society, have allowed the wins to dominate the games we play, and have forgotten that the games are only games and are for lessons in life as well. When our focus is only on the product (the wins) we will miss all the lessons and the joy that come with playing the games. Process and product: both are always in our thoughts at Westminster because both are important to us, and both are necessary in producing students who will grow and mature into the next great leaders of our day. This is what the Lord is doing at Westminster!

Education and Culture

2010-09-02T22:41:00.005-05:00

When we think of education we should think of culture. Culture is the full range of learned human behavior patterns. The term was first applied by English Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor in his book, Primitive Culture. In his book, Tylor stated that “culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man [kind] as a member of society.” Many will agree that culture is a powerful human tool for survival, but it is also in constant flux. Many believe that culture is a fragile phenomenon that exists only in our minds.

When examining various resources regarding culture, the consensus is that culture is a mental map of the world, and it influences decisions and behaviors.

According to Dennis O’Neil, it is also thought to have three layers. O”Neil states that the first and most obvious layer is the cultural traditions that distinguish your own personal shared society. Children born in northern Italy, for example, are raised to speak Italian; that is the shared language of that personal shared society. The second layer of culture is considered a subculture of the first. It consists of shared cultural traits retained from past experiences. In my case, my grandfather came to America when he was 16 years old and retained many cultural traits from northern Italy. These greatly influenced his decisions and his behaviors.

The third layer of cultural consists, O’Neil writes, of cultural universals which are learned behavior patterns that are shared by all human beings in one way or another. Examples of these cultural behavior patterns are verbal communication, age and gender, parenting, and the concept of privacy. The problem with culture for the Christian today is that there has been and still is a shift occurring in this third level of culture. Make no mistake, this shift will influence our children and be seen in them. The family structure, the concept of good and bad, and humor, to name but a few, all have changed greatly, and these changes, in turn, are all being accepted as normal behaviors today. What does Christian education then have to do with culture?

Back to our definition of culture, the complex whole that is culture consists of knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man [kind]; all are greatly influenced by education because most occur in education. I have gone to great lengths to explain the power that education wields; now I am positing that Christian education can influence the cultural whole for Christ.

Knowledge is acquired through education, and law, morals, custom, and all other habits and capabilities are acquired in an environment built for the acquisition of learned behavior. With this knowledge of culture, it is even more important that those of us in Christ spend much time in prayer when considering education and culture. Culture is a powerful tool, but it is greatly influenced by education. Education will cut through the layers of culture because culture forms when we teach and model “human behavior patterns” like the Christian worldview to our students.

At Westminster, we work hard to ensure that the culture your children are in every day is Christ-centered and leading to the cross in order that they, in turn may impact culture for Christ. The task is not impossible, but, instead, it is probable when we understand culture and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. May God be glorified.

Being Human

2010-08-25T18:03:00.004-05:00

Being human has its distinct advantages, does it not? Because we are called to have dominion over God’s creation, our human calling is different than the calling of the rest of creation. What is our human calling, and where does education fit into our human condition? Nicholas Wolterstorff, in an essay entitled, Why Doing Isn’t Everything, discusses what it is to be human. The following passage provides four insights from Wolterstorff on being human.

“To be human is to interpret not as an option but as a necessity. Reality is many different sorts, and if beliefs about the reality presented to us are to emerge, we must ourselves contribute to the interchange. Second, to be human is to imagine – to imagine how things may well be in the future in contrast to how they are in the present, and beyond that, to imagine how they could be even if they never will be that way. Third, to be human is to act and prize under the aspect of the good. “Lastly, what accompanies these foregoing capacities …is a capacity for delight and satisfaction that goes vastly beyond enjoyment of the sensory.”

Wolterstorff summarizes these views with this thoughtful summation: “to be human is to interpret the given, to imagine alternatives to the facts, to act and prize under the aspect of the good, and to find enjoyment in doing these.”

These four areas highlight our human condition. These four areas also crystallize the need for and importance of Christian education. Generally, education, teaches interpretation, fosters and directs imagination, produces and directs action, and finally instills into each student the essence of the good, the beautiful, and the joyful. A true Christian education can greatly assist in providing divine human direction – the original direction God created for His human creation.

Wolterstorff believes that “to be human is to be enculturated” and he also emphatically states that “one’s enculturation is always into some specific culture. No one is enculturated into human culture in general.” I believe that Wolterstorff is profound here. We have all been enculturated in ways that influence the way we see the entire world. When I was young, even though I was not a Christian, I still received an enculturation that had a heavy moralistic flavor to it. Unfortunately, I can not, in good conscious, acknowledge that this moral enculturation occurs in today’s society. The enculturation that our children will receive, if it is not Christian, will be one with little or no moralistic tone. It will be one that has heavy doses of self-centered and rebellious tones flavored with postmodern views of the world. Like it or not, this is the natural state of our hearts – without the Holy Spirit, and what we should expect.

As a Believer, I feel that part of my divine human calling is to provide an education that leads into the Christian culture. The Holy Spirit has intervened on behalf of those of us in Christ, and His intervention should impact our entire lives, especially since our human condition points to the fact that we will contribute to the interchange of the reality around us. Facing reality is always about questions: do we believe that enculturation takes place? And, if we do, what will be our response?

North Adams

2010-08-16T21:36:00.003-05:00

I sometimes enjoy looking through old pictures and such to catch a sense of life as it used to be. It was during one of those quests that I happen upon the following picture of North Adams, Massachusetts.

This old picture captures the city's strategic position of beauty in the midst of surrounding mountains. The cliche is true; you don't realize what you have until you lose it. I lived in and around North Adams for 24 years and never fully realized or appreciated her beauty. Enjoy this old picture, and, if you get the chance, visit North Adams. Blessings!

Inservice Talk

2010-08-06T20:16:00.003-05:00

I have posted my opening comments from this year's In-service below.

Psalm 86:11

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I fear your name.”

This is my fourth year at Westminster and this year I want to set a new tone; that is, not my tone but His. We all care deeply for this school, or we would not be here. I desperately want Psalm 86:11 for all of us this year, to walk in His truth and not mine, to have an undivided heart and not a divided one, and to fear His name and not each other, but in order for that to happen we have to identify that which holds us back and keeps us from moving ahead.

I wake up every morning fighting it; I get caught up in my day and forget that the way I look at life is through my addiction: myself. We are all addicted to ourselves in some way, shape or form. I expect you to be like me and you expect me to be like you – we are not alike because we were created by a Holy God to be different. If it were up to me, I would want us to unite in me, in what I know, in who I am… but as long as that is my tendency, unity in Christ will never occur. I need you, and you need me no matter how insane and insecure we are. We need each other. How can we hope to impact the culture around us if we continue to struggle with each other?

Today, as a school, it is time to move into a new light, and there is only one way to do that – unity in Christ. Most of you are saying, “I have heard this before, but how?’ I believe it begins first with a choice and an action. Today, we have a choice to make; are we going to sit, listen and agree, but then walk away unchanged and into the same routine as before or will we seek new ways and take that step of faith forward? Do you want to stay the same or are you like me – sick of the same struggles? We must choose to change and then act on that choice each day.

In my reading times and prayers, I keep running into this idea: more of Him? We must choose more of Him and act on that choice. But, that is such a general statement; of course we need more of Him, but how? I think it starts with a real question: Do I really believe that He is all that I need? Do you? Psalm 86:11 gives us a picture of more of Him: to learn His ways, to walk in His truth, to have an undivided heart rooted in Him and to fear His name. So, you’re sitting there saying, “Fine, how do we do this?” I think I finally know where we can begin.

First, we must be real with ourselves and with each other and that means asking real questions like: are we better this year than we were last year? Do I trust my fellow faculty and my administration? These are real questions we all wrestle with, and they have real answers, but our worldly tendency is to stop at the answers. Those that agree with us we welcome into our camp, those that don’t, well, they just don’t “get it.” Sound familiar? I say those things all the time. I believe as important as answers are (and they are important) He calls us beyond the question and beyond the answers. In order to go beyond the questions and answers, we must, first, depend on scripture as much as humanly possible. Real answers excite me, but I can not forget about the Biblical process because if I do, I will stop at the answer and stay there. The process is as important as the product, as it helps guide us forward past the answers. What does this process look like?

Real answers must first be obtained through His prescribed process; we must follow Matt 18:15 with each other! We can’t just talk about. We can’t just expect others to follow it. We must follow it. This is our first new action toward a new light because the old way is to agree and do nothing, but the new way is to agree, to act and to change. Second, real answers are great, but they will be detrimental to us if our only motivation for seeking them is to surround ourselves with those who have the same answers as ours, and, to be honest, that is the reason for most of our questions. Asking real questions with this as our only motivation will not bring unity of any kind to you, me or our school. Scripture demands something different from those who believe: we are to ask real question that lead to real answers, but we must not stop there. We must listen to those real answers… all of those real answers – those we agree with and those we do not. Why? Because the process is not finished; I believe we are to go beyond those answers because the answers, as real and as important as they are, are to lead us NOT into confirmation that we are right, but instead into true relationships with each other.

This summer I discovered this wonderful truth; it is not only about the answers (and I love answers), but it is also about the relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ is not just found in His word, but He is also found in His Believers! What did Jesus say? “Where two or three gather in my name I am with them.” And this verse comes at the end of a passage dealing with the sinning Brother. It is a prescribed process of restoring the sinning Brother back into unity and fellowship with other Believers. I imagine the sinning brother had some answers that were not in agreement with the church, and those must be dealt with, but in the passage, the process does not stop with answers (as important as they are) but moves beyond answers and into the restoration of a relationship. We must strive each year, each month, each week and each day for this unity, and this kind of unity is not found in our answers but in Him.

As I conclude, let me ask a real question, and I want you think about it for a moment: are we moving in the right direction (give a moment to think)? Your minds are thinking of many different things regarding this one seemingly simple question (you may even think, how ambiguous a question). The question is purposefully ambiguous in order to bring home this point: right now, there are many different answers to this one question. Each one of us is called to provide a real honest answer to that real question, not to find those who agree with us, but to begin to build relationships with those who agree with us and those who do not. Seeking only those who agree with us is the old way and will lead no where. We must understand that our answer, regardless of what it is, is meant as an opportunity to enter into a true relationship with fellow Believers leading to a unity that is in Christ and not in our answers. We are not to define each other by our answers but by who we are in Christ. As we unite and build true relationships, we will discover that it will take all of us in Christ to discover His answers. And, then we can move forward as a body defined by Christ instead of one divided by its answers to questions. We will always have different answers to questions and we should, but those answers should never define us. Christ defines us!

So, what do we do now? Well, I don’t have an equation or formula, but I do have an idea for a beginning, and that beginning is peace. This summer our SS has been going through the Peacemaker series. One of the points hammered home to me is this: the Word states that we are to seek… peace with each other! Those who seek peace do so to discover more of Him and less of themselves… isn’t that what we want our school to be – more of Him and less of us. Isn’t that were true unity in Christ is – less of us and more of Him?

Consider Jesus as our example:

Luke 7:50 “Your faith has made you well, go in peace.”

Luke 8:45 “Your faith has made you well, go in peace.”

This idea of faith and peace… we, in faith, are to seek peace, and I believe we are to seek it with each other first!

Psalm 35:20 “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Is this not our calling as Believers… this peace with each other, is it not a daily pursuit worth all of our efforts? Can we accomplish anything without it?

I’m no theologian, but in my prayers I believe that to begin, we must seek peace with each other first. Peace is only found in relationships built in Christ and never in our answers. So, I believe we have two major priorities this year: our first priority is to be peacemakers and not peace –fakers or peace-breakers. Which are you? I am a peace-breaker by nature because I want to be right, and I want to be in control. As long as it is about me, it will never be about Him. Peace must be my goal, and it must be your goal. Collectively, when we strive for peace we will get less of ourselves and more of Him, and that is what we desperately need. Our second priority is to be forthright with our… goals because they will require our united efforts this year and every year. Blessings!

Another Great Poem...

2010-07-28T07:40:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets, The Tiger by William Blake. Enjoy!

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And What shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The Power of Culture

2010-07-21T21:55:00.005-05:00

Recently I posted comments on a book entitled, To Change the World by Dr. James Davison Hunter. In his book, Dr. Hunter questions the normative view of culture and every norm associated with it.

Culture is thought to be about hearts and minds, and to change culture one simply had to change the majority of hearts and minds. Dr. Hunters believes this is not the case at all. He, not only, challenges this notion but provides an alternative view of culture, which, after dwelling on it and re-reading that section of the book, I tend to agree with his analysis and subsequent theory on this.

Dr. Hunter believes that culture is a "normative order by which we comprehend others, the larger world and ourselves and through which we individually and collectively order our experiences." Dr. Hunter believes that the heart of culture is a "complex of norms" or as he has termed them, "commanding truths." Dr. Hunter believes that these "commanding truths" define the "shoulds and should nots of our experiences and the good and evil, the right and wrong, the appropriate and inappropriate, the honorable and the shameful. To put it succinctly, Dr. Hunter describes culture as a system of truth claims and moral obligations." To him culture is really about ideas.

If Dr. Hunter is right, and I believe that he is more right than wrong, then, what does this new view of culture say about the role of education in acquiring morality? Outside of the family, there is no greater teacher of morality than the educational institution. It is said that values and morals are caught more than taught, and that the act of catching comes from sheer hours of time spent in connection with others who already have values or are also catching values. The truth that we claim and the morality that we follow, from where do they come?

Truth and morality begin within the family, but as your child grows others begin to partner with you in this process despite your greatest protests. Teachers, friends, coaches and friend's parents start to become part of this process - not intentionally, of course. As your child's world expands, they begin to spend more time away from you and with others. They play, run and imagine in different ways and with different others. They interact with the world through their family, their friends, their teachers, their coaches, their mentors and their heroes. All of this affects the formation of their truth and their morality in a deep and impacting way. Eventually, a fabric is woven into a worldview that is, in essence, reality for all of us. Dr. Hunter believes this created worldview is so embedded in who we are that it is reality for all of us. He writes,

"[Worldview] is not just our view of what is right or wrong or true or false but our understanding of time, space, and identity - the very essence of reality as we experience it."

Dr. Hunter's view of culture is very different and very helpful to those of us who want to understand the power of culture and its impacting effect on all of us. He writes on what culture is,

"One must view culture, then not only as a normative order reflected in well established symbols, but also as the organization of human activity surrounding the production, distribution, manipulation, and administration of these symbols. Another way to say this is that culture is intrinsically dialectical. It is generated and exists at the interface between ideas and institutions; between the symbolic and the social and physical environment."

If it is indeed a battle of ideas and their relationships to all of us, and I am beginning to believe that it is, then the education we choose matters greatly. The power of culture is two-fold: culture is a powerful influence on who we are, and it is a power that can be changed by ideas and the people who promote them. Education is an important variable in their equation. Stay tuned for more comments on this very interesting topic! Blessings!

Memories

2010-07-15T07:26:00.002-05:00

Memories tend to be paradoxical in nature, at least to me. When your young you are so busy making memories that you tend not to reflect back on any, but when you get older a picture like the one to the right can bring many racing back into your mind.

This is a picture of a road sign on the front lawn of the school that I attended in Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts. The school you can see in the background was a beautiful four room building with a library and the best gym around.

Monroe Bridge was a small town of 250 people during my childhood. Today, it is a struggling town of about 130. Many wonderful memories were made there. Those of us who grew up in Monroe Bridge grew up in a place and at a time when life was good. I can't remember locking our door at night or worrying about sleeping with the windows open. I remember walking to school in the morning... as an elementary student. I remember riding my bike 5 miles up the road with my friends and swimming at the "Cement Bridge" until dark with NO adult supervision. I remember playing hide-and-seek in the whole town with the flag pole of the school being base. I remember sliding at night on Monroe Hill. I remember winter river walks and winter forts in huge piles of snow Kenny made with the bucket loader. I know he was cleaning the town up after a winter storm, but, deep down, I knew he was making those huge piles of snow for us. I remember swimming in Rowe Pond on a hot summer day. I remember building yet another fort on the Mini-bike trails in the woods by the river. I remember playing basketball with a friend for hours on his hoop which used the public road as a court and never being distracted by one car. I have so many memories of Monroe Bridge to reflect on these days.

Monroe Bridge is a memory of a time when life was good. I often think is life not that good anymore, or am I too old to enjoy it in the way and in the manner that I did as a kid in Monroe Bridge. In recent years, I have recognized that the place may have had more to do with the goodness of life as a child than I once realized, but, just the same, I have no real answer to that question other than to strive to give my own children a bit of that same life. I think it is the right of every child to live a bit of life with no fear of the unknown and in the outdoors running and playing without the constraints of constant security.

Monroe Bridge gave many of us that right years longer than most, and I, for one, count myself blessed for having experienced it as long as I did. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but finding that picture today brought many memories back of old Monroe Bridge and most of those memories were good. And, when most of your past memories are good, well, that is more than one deserves. Blessings!

To Change the World

2010-07-13T14:02:00.004-05:00

James Davison Hunter has written a book entitled, To Change the World, which may be one of the most important books written in the last twenty years. You will have a hard time finding it, but it is worth the search.

Hunter presents his views on culture and Christianity in his book via three essays: Christianity and World-Changing, Rethinking Power and Toward a New City Commons: Reflections on a Theology of Faithful Presence.

In this book his traces the history of Christianity and culture and makes some strong statements about why western Christianity has not impacted culture in a greater way. He then goes into culture and actually redefines it. He refutes this whole idea of culture being about hearts and minds and moves into the concept of culture actually being about ideas. Hunter then makes seven propositions on culture.

His last essay is where he makes his case for his proposal of and calling for"faithful presence." The book is well written and powerful. It will produce additional ideas and movements in the areas of Christianity and culture. I will not even attempt to summarize the ideas presented inside this book as they are many and deep.

If there is one book that you do buy this year make sure it is this book. You will need to set some time aside to read it slowly as it contains important concepts that will demand all of your attention. Blessings!