I met Jesus when I was a teenager.
Every day with Him is sweeter than the day before.
But I am sick and tired of the phoney baloney Jesus being preached by so many in our country.
I just watched a very well known television "preacher" hold a "share-a-thon" on TV.
This guy was extoling the benefits of giving to his "ministry."
He proclaimed how God would not fail to bless those who gave.
He then proceeded to have several "testimonies" from some who gave thousands and reaped tens of thousands.
The next story was of an old woman in Bangladesh, or some such poverty stricken country, who rode a rickety old bicycle to collect thrown away food left-overs to feed her family.
In their benevolence, his ministry, helped by your wonderful giving, bought her a new bicycle with which to travel about picking up her scraps of food.
Oh...and they sent her some rice, too.
My question is, "Why didn't they just encourage her to scrimp and save up $5.00 to send to his ministry?"
She would have become rich practically overnight...probably sleeping in the king's palace!
Maybe they could have sent her some real balogna, instead of the phoney baloney tripe they regularly preach.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
PREACH THE BIBLE?
In my survey of Southwest Florida's fastest growing, most "influential" churches, I have found some common threads.
As a church grows, there is a feeling of disconnect among its members if an effort has not been made to "cut it off at the pass," that is, to provide a connect among the members.
For most of the "successful" churches in our area this has meant an emphasis on relatively small ministry groups led by either "professional" or lay leaders.
Some have kept the framework of Sunday School as the basis of their small group ministry, others have used a variation of the Home Church idea.
Either way, it is the intimacy of the small group that has enabled the members to maintain the feeling of connectivity to one another.
Another common thread is the style of preaching.
Among the larger, growing churches in Southwest Florida, none is using a specifically or exclusively "seeker friendly" approach, although they all incorporate some aspects thereof.
The noticeable characteristic of their preaching is the preaching of the gospel..."gospel" meaning not just Biblical truth, but the Truth of Jesus Christ and His life, death, burial and resurrection for the remission of sin.
They do not emphasize "social ills," such as abortion, pre-marital sex, divorce, drug use, etc., although everyone of them is quick to point out their counter-productive consequences.
They do not specialize in "innovative" worship services, though every one uses a certain dose of same, such as drama, overhead projection, live instruments, etc.
The growing, "successful" churches have concluded that discipling cannot be done from the pulpit, because, by nature, discipling requires action and interaction on the part of individuals, not just listening.
What they seem to have "discovered" is, like Paul, the deep, deep yearning of people to have the spiritual darkness of their hearts filled with the hope of the Gospel of Christ.
Furthermore, they have found that those who have been saved never tire of hearing the "old, old story" over and over again.
The result is that 40 to 45 of 52 Sunday morning sermons preached each year in the simi-mega-churches in Southwest Florida are gospel messages that clearly lay out the plan of salvation and invite people to respond to it.
This is in keeping with what the Word of God instructs.
(Where some pastors got the idea that they have to prepare sermons on 52 different topics per year is beyond me. I would guess that it was taught to them in the sometimes arrogant, elitist and superficially intellectual environment of seminary or Bible college.)
Below are the Biblical references to "preach" or "preaching."
Look at them closely and then draw a conclusion about what the Bible says is to be preached.
Count how many of the references make direct reference to preaching THE GOSPEL.
Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mt 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mr 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Mr 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Lu 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Lu 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Lu 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Lu 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Ac 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Ac 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Ac 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Ac 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Ac 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Ac 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Ro 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Ro 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ro 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Ga 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Ga 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Re 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
As a church grows, there is a feeling of disconnect among its members if an effort has not been made to "cut it off at the pass," that is, to provide a connect among the members.
For most of the "successful" churches in our area this has meant an emphasis on relatively small ministry groups led by either "professional" or lay leaders.
Some have kept the framework of Sunday School as the basis of their small group ministry, others have used a variation of the Home Church idea.
Either way, it is the intimacy of the small group that has enabled the members to maintain the feeling of connectivity to one another.
Another common thread is the style of preaching.
Among the larger, growing churches in Southwest Florida, none is using a specifically or exclusively "seeker friendly" approach, although they all incorporate some aspects thereof.
The noticeable characteristic of their preaching is the preaching of the gospel..."gospel" meaning not just Biblical truth, but the Truth of Jesus Christ and His life, death, burial and resurrection for the remission of sin.
They do not emphasize "social ills," such as abortion, pre-marital sex, divorce, drug use, etc., although everyone of them is quick to point out their counter-productive consequences.
They do not specialize in "innovative" worship services, though every one uses a certain dose of same, such as drama, overhead projection, live instruments, etc.
The growing, "successful" churches have concluded that discipling cannot be done from the pulpit, because, by nature, discipling requires action and interaction on the part of individuals, not just listening.
What they seem to have "discovered" is, like Paul, the deep, deep yearning of people to have the spiritual darkness of their hearts filled with the hope of the Gospel of Christ.
Furthermore, they have found that those who have been saved never tire of hearing the "old, old story" over and over again.
The result is that 40 to 45 of 52 Sunday morning sermons preached each year in the simi-mega-churches in Southwest Florida are gospel messages that clearly lay out the plan of salvation and invite people to respond to it.
This is in keeping with what the Word of God instructs.
(Where some pastors got the idea that they have to prepare sermons on 52 different topics per year is beyond me. I would guess that it was taught to them in the sometimes arrogant, elitist and superficially intellectual environment of seminary or Bible college.)
Below are the Biblical references to "preach" or "preaching."
Look at them closely and then draw a conclusion about what the Bible says is to be preached.
Count how many of the references make direct reference to preaching THE GOSPEL.
Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mt 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mr 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Mr 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Lu 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Lu 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Lu 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Lu 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Ac 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Ac 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Ac 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Ac 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Ac 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Ac 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Ro 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Ro 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ro 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Ga 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Ga 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Ga 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Re 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
MIX BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE?
Should a church or Christian ministry be a business?
Well, first of all, in the eyes of the state and federal governments, churches and Christian ministries are businesses.
Contrary to popular belief, churches pay taxes.
In most states, churches (and most 501C3 non-profit ministries) don't pay sales taxes, and they don't pay federal income taxes themselves (but they do withhold taxes from certain employee paychecks), but they do pay other taxes and assessments.
But my real question revolves around the often stated belief that churches or Christian ministries should adopt and observe "good business practices."
(For the purposes of this post, I shall hitherto forth use the term "ministry" to include churches and para church organizations operating in the name of Jesus for the purpose of filling a community or world-wide need.)
One could use Scripture to try to make that determination...you know: "count the costs," etc.
But then where does faith fit in?
The answer lies in what church members believe the ministry really is.
If the ministry is a group that sees itself as a sort of "holy club," with regular meetings about how to behave and do good things, then there is no particular reason not to act in a totally businesslike manner.
But if the ministry is a body of called out believers in a resurrected Lord with whom they have both a personal and a corporate relationship, then it dare not think of itself as a business.
Let me see whether I can create a clearer understanding of the nature of churches and Christian ministries, as compared with businesses.
A business is an entity whose purpose it is to exchange goods and services for some particular gain...monetary or otherwise.
It is a direct quid-pro-quo relationship.
I do this for you; you give me this in return.
For instance, a commercial radio station says to an advertiser, "You give me "X" amount of money and I'll produce a spot for you that will entice listeners to buy your goods and services, and that spot will air "Y" number of times per day.
A Christian radio station, on the other hand (one of those para church ministries) can, both by law and by ethical standards, only ask a business to support it and air what the FCC calls "business acknowledgements."
It is prohibited by law from issuing a "call to action" (asking the listener to do something...like "call such-and-such a number"), airing an "enticement to buy" (giving the listener some reason to purchase from that business as opposed to some other business), or using descriptive, qualitative phrases ("the best Quadrapones in Southwest Florida").
As a ministry, it should not want to do such things anyway.
A ministry is characterized by giving, not getting.
The role of the ministry, church or para church, is to give, and give, and give some more, and leave it up to God to provide.
Ministries are about reconciliation, encouraging one another in the body of Christ and building one another up in the body of Christ.
Ministries are about thinking of others as better than yourself.
That doesn't mean that ministries should not ask for or receive money...they should.
The money that comes to a ministry should be a response from those benefiting from the ministry and from those who believe in the ministry and want to see it continue.
Money (and other blessings) follows ministry.
If a ministry's constituency believes it receives a benefit from the ministry, or sees the value of the ministry as a benefit to someone believed to need the ministry, it will have the support it needs..
If a ministry is not being supported, guess what...it is not being perceived as an important ministry by its constituency.
The real answer is: A ministry (including a church) dare not think of itself as a business. As soon as it does, it risks alienating its base and going afoul of the law.
Furthermore, it risks substituting business practices for faith.
Here's the deal.
If a ministry wants to do something, and it is God's will that it be done, God will provide the way for it to get done in His power.
If a ministry wants to do something and it is NOT God's will, it will never receive the blessing from doing it that it would have if it had waited to discover God's will.
For instance, if a church wants to build a new facility but it is not God's will, the building, if it gets built at all, will never fully serve its intended purpose and may require "pulling teeth" to get it done.
If a church knows that God wants a new facility built and proceeds on faith that He will provide, stand back...there is no power on earth that can prevent it from being done.
That may not be good business, but it is excellent faith.
Faith pleases God.
Nothing else does.
Well, first of all, in the eyes of the state and federal governments, churches and Christian ministries are businesses.
Contrary to popular belief, churches pay taxes.
In most states, churches (and most 501C3 non-profit ministries) don't pay sales taxes, and they don't pay federal income taxes themselves (but they do withhold taxes from certain employee paychecks), but they do pay other taxes and assessments.
But my real question revolves around the often stated belief that churches or Christian ministries should adopt and observe "good business practices."
(For the purposes of this post, I shall hitherto forth use the term "ministry" to include churches and para church organizations operating in the name of Jesus for the purpose of filling a community or world-wide need.)
One could use Scripture to try to make that determination...you know: "count the costs," etc.
But then where does faith fit in?
The answer lies in what church members believe the ministry really is.
If the ministry is a group that sees itself as a sort of "holy club," with regular meetings about how to behave and do good things, then there is no particular reason not to act in a totally businesslike manner.
But if the ministry is a body of called out believers in a resurrected Lord with whom they have both a personal and a corporate relationship, then it dare not think of itself as a business.
Let me see whether I can create a clearer understanding of the nature of churches and Christian ministries, as compared with businesses.
A business is an entity whose purpose it is to exchange goods and services for some particular gain...monetary or otherwise.
It is a direct quid-pro-quo relationship.
I do this for you; you give me this in return.
For instance, a commercial radio station says to an advertiser, "You give me "X" amount of money and I'll produce a spot for you that will entice listeners to buy your goods and services, and that spot will air "Y" number of times per day.
A Christian radio station, on the other hand (one of those para church ministries) can, both by law and by ethical standards, only ask a business to support it and air what the FCC calls "business acknowledgements."
It is prohibited by law from issuing a "call to action" (asking the listener to do something...like "call such-and-such a number"), airing an "enticement to buy" (giving the listener some reason to purchase from that business as opposed to some other business), or using descriptive, qualitative phrases ("the best Quadrapones in Southwest Florida").
As a ministry, it should not want to do such things anyway.
A ministry is characterized by giving, not getting.
The role of the ministry, church or para church, is to give, and give, and give some more, and leave it up to God to provide.
Ministries are about reconciliation, encouraging one another in the body of Christ and building one another up in the body of Christ.
Ministries are about thinking of others as better than yourself.
That doesn't mean that ministries should not ask for or receive money...they should.
The money that comes to a ministry should be a response from those benefiting from the ministry and from those who believe in the ministry and want to see it continue.
Money (and other blessings) follows ministry.
If a ministry's constituency believes it receives a benefit from the ministry, or sees the value of the ministry as a benefit to someone believed to need the ministry, it will have the support it needs..
If a ministry is not being supported, guess what...it is not being perceived as an important ministry by its constituency.
The real answer is: A ministry (including a church) dare not think of itself as a business. As soon as it does, it risks alienating its base and going afoul of the law.
Furthermore, it risks substituting business practices for faith.
Here's the deal.
If a ministry wants to do something, and it is God's will that it be done, God will provide the way for it to get done in His power.
If a ministry wants to do something and it is NOT God's will, it will never receive the blessing from doing it that it would have if it had waited to discover God's will.
For instance, if a church wants to build a new facility but it is not God's will, the building, if it gets built at all, will never fully serve its intended purpose and may require "pulling teeth" to get it done.
If a church knows that God wants a new facility built and proceeds on faith that He will provide, stand back...there is no power on earth that can prevent it from being done.
That may not be good business, but it is excellent faith.
Faith pleases God.
Nothing else does.
Friday, September 07, 2007
NEW MEANING TO THE PHRASE
TO BRUSH UP ON YOUR TECHNIQUE.
My wife posted the following on her site:
Do you think my husband noticed!
I washed my husband's shirts. He had left GUM in the pockets.
If for some reason you wash
clothes with gum in the
pockets, like my husband did, spray
hairspray on the spot when the clothes are still wet.
Then use your husband's toothbrush
to brush off of the clothes.
Next re-wash the clothes.
Last! Put the toothbrush back were you got it!
Works great!!
To which I reply:
Yu-u-u-u-c-k!
I sure am glad I bought a new toothbrush today!
ADDENDUM:
I suddenly feel the need to clean our toilet. Wonder where I can find a brush.
My wife posted the following on her site:
Do you think my husband noticed!
I washed my husband's shirts. He had left GUM in the pockets.
If for some reason you wash
clothes with gum in the
pockets, like my husband did, spray
hairspray on the spot when the clothes are still wet.
Then use your husband's toothbrush
to brush off of the clothes.
Next re-wash the clothes.
Last! Put the toothbrush back were you got it!
Works great!!
To which I reply:
Yu-u-u-u-c-k!
I sure am glad I bought a new toothbrush today!
ADDENDUM:
I suddenly feel the need to clean our toilet. Wonder where I can find a brush.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
DOES OPPORTUNITY KNOCK?
Note: The following post is not intended to be spiritual in nature. In the broadest sense it is, but it is really about what you can do if you want to.
I am not a good reader.
Not that I can't read.
In fact, I took speed reading courses.
I read best when I am reading really fast.
But I don't enjoy reading because I have to focus really hard to get it done.
It has gotten worse over the years.
I reverse letters, words and even sentences and have to strain to untangle them.
I think one could reasonably say that I am lysdexic.
But I have read.
I have read many things that were not particularly "good" reading, in the sense of holding my interest.
Among them: Plato and Aristotle (boring); Shakespeare (undecipherable); Frued (a real nut-case); Spencer (a bad behaviorist); Bunyan (John, not Paul); and other assorted works as assigned by professors who thought they knew what I needed to read.
Two things I enjoy reading over and over are The Bible and The Constitution of the United States of America.
I have read the Bible through completely five times and am now on my sixth trip through.
The Consitution is not as long (or as edifying) as The Bible, but it is full of things I think every person who pretends to be a citizen of this land should know.
Now that you think this post is about reading, dyslexia, The Bible or the Constitution, I will reveal its true purpose: Opportunity.
This country, with all of its short-comings, which are many, is still the land of opportunity like no other.
Any person can become whatever he or she wants to become, if he or she is willing to do what it takes to do it.
Some people wallow in their self-induced misery and never do what they want to do.
Their bad.
Not the system's bad...theirs.
"But some people can't get a job!" I hear you cry out.
Nonsense.
Absolute, utter, total, complete nonsense.
"But what about those who can't work because of some physical limitation?" you object.
Why don't you go tell that to American physicist, Nobel Prize winner Steven Hocking?
"Well, sure! If I had an IQ of 350 (or whatever his is), I could overcome my handicaps, too."
Balder-ever-lovin-blue-eyed dash!
If Steven Hocking had chosen to let his handicap dictate his life circumstance, he would be one of les miserables, too.
Any American, oriental, hispanic, black, caucasian or whatever, has the opportunity to be whatever he/she wants to be, if he or she is willing to do what it takes to be what he/she wants to be.
There are black hospital administrators in this county who were born into poverty.
There are hispanic holders of high office in this land.
There are oriental business magnates.
See, here's the thing...somewhere we are failing to teach our children that the greatest value this nation has to offer is not multi-culturalism, it is not a government established welfare program, it is simply this: Opportunity.
Here's how it works:
1. Get your mind off of yourself and start focusing on how you can help others.
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says, "You can get anything you want out of life if you will help enough other people get what they want out of life."
2. Get a basic education and learn to read.
Don't just graduate from high school...learn what was taught to you in grades K - 12. (Sadly, in Florida, where I live, 30% of graduating seniors can't read their own diplomas!)
If you can read, you can learn anything.
If you cannot read you are severely limited in what you can accomplish.
But you can learn to read.
3. Learn to communicate in the language common to the majority of people with whom you will have the opportunity to work...that's English. Rightly or wrongly, that's English.
You have the right to talk any way you want to, but the ability to forsake the cultural bounds of dialect will ensure that you can communicate with those you need to to accomplish what you want to accomplish.
4. If you seek a professional or vocational career, get higher education in that field.
Dreaming, "I'd like to be an astronaut," won't do you any good if you don't learn to fly, or do math, or science or whatever field holds your interest.
Is it easy in this country to be whatever you want to be?
Nope.
It's hard.
Real hard.
You have to discipline yourself to put your nose to the grind-stone and work gut-wrenchingly hard.
But the opportunity is there if you'll take it.
In a populationally mixed class of elementary students, when the teacher steps to the front of the class and teaches 2 + 2 = 4, there is not one single student of normal intelligence, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic level or whatever, who does not have the opportunity to learn that.
Some will learn quickly, some slowly.
Some will learn easily, some with great difficulty.
Every one will have the opportunity to learn.
And that, after all, is what this country is about: Opportunity.
The Constitution guarantees every citizen (emphasis: citizen) life, liberty, the right to own property and a plethora of other rights that will enable anyone to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this unique nation.
What our government, leaders, and our teachers need to be emphasizing is opportunism.
I am not a good reader.
Not that I can't read.
In fact, I took speed reading courses.
I read best when I am reading really fast.
But I don't enjoy reading because I have to focus really hard to get it done.
It has gotten worse over the years.
I reverse letters, words and even sentences and have to strain to untangle them.
I think one could reasonably say that I am lysdexic.
But I have read.
I have read many things that were not particularly "good" reading, in the sense of holding my interest.
Among them: Plato and Aristotle (boring); Shakespeare (undecipherable); Frued (a real nut-case); Spencer (a bad behaviorist); Bunyan (John, not Paul); and other assorted works as assigned by professors who thought they knew what I needed to read.
Two things I enjoy reading over and over are The Bible and The Constitution of the United States of America.
I have read the Bible through completely five times and am now on my sixth trip through.
The Consitution is not as long (or as edifying) as The Bible, but it is full of things I think every person who pretends to be a citizen of this land should know.
Now that you think this post is about reading, dyslexia, The Bible or the Constitution, I will reveal its true purpose: Opportunity.
This country, with all of its short-comings, which are many, is still the land of opportunity like no other.
Any person can become whatever he or she wants to become, if he or she is willing to do what it takes to do it.
Some people wallow in their self-induced misery and never do what they want to do.
Their bad.
Not the system's bad...theirs.
"But some people can't get a job!" I hear you cry out.
Nonsense.
Absolute, utter, total, complete nonsense.
"But what about those who can't work because of some physical limitation?" you object.
Why don't you go tell that to American physicist, Nobel Prize winner Steven Hocking?
"Well, sure! If I had an IQ of 350 (or whatever his is), I could overcome my handicaps, too."
Balder-ever-lovin-blue-eyed dash!
If Steven Hocking had chosen to let his handicap dictate his life circumstance, he would be one of les miserables, too.
Any American, oriental, hispanic, black, caucasian or whatever, has the opportunity to be whatever he/she wants to be, if he or she is willing to do what it takes to be what he/she wants to be.
There are black hospital administrators in this county who were born into poverty.
There are hispanic holders of high office in this land.
There are oriental business magnates.
See, here's the thing...somewhere we are failing to teach our children that the greatest value this nation has to offer is not multi-culturalism, it is not a government established welfare program, it is simply this: Opportunity.
Here's how it works:
1. Get your mind off of yourself and start focusing on how you can help others.
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says, "You can get anything you want out of life if you will help enough other people get what they want out of life."
2. Get a basic education and learn to read.
Don't just graduate from high school...learn what was taught to you in grades K - 12. (Sadly, in Florida, where I live, 30% of graduating seniors can't read their own diplomas!)
If you can read, you can learn anything.
If you cannot read you are severely limited in what you can accomplish.
But you can learn to read.
3. Learn to communicate in the language common to the majority of people with whom you will have the opportunity to work...that's English. Rightly or wrongly, that's English.
You have the right to talk any way you want to, but the ability to forsake the cultural bounds of dialect will ensure that you can communicate with those you need to to accomplish what you want to accomplish.
4. If you seek a professional or vocational career, get higher education in that field.
Dreaming, "I'd like to be an astronaut," won't do you any good if you don't learn to fly, or do math, or science or whatever field holds your interest.
Is it easy in this country to be whatever you want to be?
Nope.
It's hard.
Real hard.
You have to discipline yourself to put your nose to the grind-stone and work gut-wrenchingly hard.
But the opportunity is there if you'll take it.
In a populationally mixed class of elementary students, when the teacher steps to the front of the class and teaches 2 + 2 = 4, there is not one single student of normal intelligence, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic level or whatever, who does not have the opportunity to learn that.
Some will learn quickly, some slowly.
Some will learn easily, some with great difficulty.
Every one will have the opportunity to learn.
And that, after all, is what this country is about: Opportunity.
The Constitution guarantees every citizen (emphasis: citizen) life, liberty, the right to own property and a plethora of other rights that will enable anyone to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this unique nation.
What our government, leaders, and our teachers need to be emphasizing is opportunism.
Monday, September 03, 2007
HAPPY LABOR DAY?
What makes a happy Labor day, anyway?
Do you give Labor Day gifts?
Was there a great military battle we won, worthy of celebration?
Maybe it has some Religious or Christian significance.
No, no and no.
"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "
All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Or else they are in observance of some religious event.
Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."
Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
On June 28th, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
Did you know, though, that by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and is supposed to be dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement?
In the end, Labor Day is a secular holiday (which, since holiday is a contraction of Holy Day, may be an oxymoron), and is directly tied to neither patriotism nor faith.
That being said, one principle of Scripture is that we give our very best as slaves (read: employees) remembering that our work is unto the Lord, and not to men.
So, HAPPY LABOR DAY! And may all the picnics you attend be filling, may the speeches you endure be short, and if you are off today, be safe, get some rest and tomorrow...get to work!
Above all, remain in Christ.
That will make it a happy Labor Day, indeed.
Do you give Labor Day gifts?
Was there a great military battle we won, worthy of celebration?
Maybe it has some Religious or Christian significance.
No, no and no.
"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "
All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Or else they are in observance of some religious event.
Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."
Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
On June 28th, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
Did you know, though, that by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and is supposed to be dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement?
In the end, Labor Day is a secular holiday (which, since holiday is a contraction of Holy Day, may be an oxymoron), and is directly tied to neither patriotism nor faith.
That being said, one principle of Scripture is that we give our very best as slaves (read: employees) remembering that our work is unto the Lord, and not to men.
So, HAPPY LABOR DAY! And may all the picnics you attend be filling, may the speeches you endure be short, and if you are off today, be safe, get some rest and tomorrow...get to work!
Above all, remain in Christ.
That will make it a happy Labor Day, indeed.
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