As governmental bureaucracies, et al, get more involved the tendency is to try to create rules and strategies that address or encompass EVERY situation.  This has caused schools to try to create a mass of automatons that think, see, feel and act the same way about everything… not only is this impossible, but how can this possibly be considered “Education”?

I wholeheartedly support and see as a necessity the education of human kind.  But what is the GOAL?!  Most students are simply meeting requirements and conditions set down by those bureaucracies so they can receive a diploma and “get out of school”.  What a sad commentary on our schools -society -government -attitudes.  The faculty and staff are often beaten down to the point that they think their purpose is to get them out the door (graduate).  When did graduation become the goal? -it really isn’t one, it is just a point in time when we change direction.  Others believe the goal is to get as much information and coursework accomplished to impress the “better” universities so they can get more information and, therefore, ultimately get a “better” job.  Is greed what drives our goal-setting?  Is that what a “better” job is?  Even society will occasionally eschew its own greed in a movie like Deeds or in a more insightful moment – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Unfortunately our prideful ‘drivenness’ as a nation is misdirected.  Being driven is only purposeful when going in the right direction. In other words, being driven only has positive validity when on the right road for the right reason.  Hard work is good.  Hard work for the wrong reason is boxing the wind.

So what is the problem?  During my career I was often asked questions of philosophy, motive, desires and inspiration.  My favorite inspirational quotation is “A man understands the meaning of life when he plants trees, knowing he will never sit under their shade.”

It is a bit depressing to think we may someday be looking for shade.  The sun of life will not stop shining; and without those that truly understand the importance of pouring oneself into others, then no shade trees can take root.

As we look at all the professions and jobs that exist we understand that individuals have a great capacity for mentoring others.  However, too often the purpose of “job” is to increase personal salary and live out the “American Dream.”  What a nightmare this “American Dream” chase has become to so many.  Those who do not “make it” are depressed and left wanting.  Those who “make it” find there is still not complete satisfaction and they, too, are left wanting.

Men were not created to work for themselves alone, men were created for relationships in which they can contribute to making others and themselves better.  What better stage to fulfill this than as an educator.

I realize that meeting standards is what appeases the bureaucracy and therefore keeps the school doors open.   However, no matter what rule is established, education is still about the people.  Common sense and common courtesy… I preached this to so many for so long and still believe it to be a strong foundation to any type of relationship.

Education has changed from having the purpose of developing an individual to contribute to society into being a huge group of institutions trying to master standardized tests.  No, No.  Don’t get me wrong–I believe in accountability and commitment to task.  But I do ask myself as I invest time and energy into a student “What is the goal? A person that performs well on a test? or a person who has learned to enjoy learning and contribute positively to others?”–Simple choice for me.

How can a student be encouraged to enjoy learning new things when the focus is on test taking strategies and on objectives that may be addressed on a test.  Educators will say “We have to play the game because those are the cards we have been dealt.”  I understand.  It’s too bad the deck is stacked against the important things in the educational community.

Education is the best way to facilitate change, but the effected change needs to be properly delineated.  Learning new things is exciting — whether a skill learned in a vocational class, the beauty of literature, the facts of history, the appreciation of artistic talent, the method of mathematical problem solving, the intricate structure of DNA, the combination of notes to make a song, the value of teamwork in a game, the flow of another language, etc.

These things are fun, but we are slowly destroying the capacity for joy in the classroom for a majority of students.

Students with high cognitive ability are slowly anesthetized by the focus on test objectives.  Students with learning difficulties are manipulated and the system adjusts to help them make sure their objectives are met.  Students in between dissociate  and see education as a task rather than learning.

Yes, I am concerned.  We must invest ourselves into others no matter our career choice.  Whether you are an educator or not, the people around you need you.  Otherwise, those following you will still be asking , “Where’s the Shade?”

  Even reaching it just doesn’t bring relief.

My mind believes that I’ll go crazy without scratching.

  My heart knows that it is really self-made grief.

The One Who Scratches is willing to relieve me.

  Yet I keep thinking that I will get it done.

I see surrender as a weakness with no quarter

  When all along He has made sure that the battle’s won.

I turn to ME to get solutions for that itching,

  but satisfaction is a temporary find.

I grit my teeth with a determined prideful fervor

  and find my scratching never seems to ease my mind.

The fruitless efforts of my nubby little fingers

  just prolongs the indefatigable pain.

I finally see the soothing lotion of the Master,

  that death to self is the beginning of true gain.

There is no spot that can’t be reached through my Savior.

  There is no itch that can’t be scratched when in the Word.

Why did I struggle in my own imagined power

  when all along I needed Him to be my Lord.

It quickens my memories of youth.

The sweet reminders of moments in a young man’s past

Show how grace can temper the truth.

The hot grainy sand of the western plains

Caused footprints to look for the shade,

And the earth slowed its turning to give me time

To find wonders from what He had made.

Hollow sounds from a thump meant the melon was ripe

Squash was yellow, tomatoes were red.

The okra pointed up as it grew day by day

And the cotton spread over its bed.

I can still feel the pop of the peas from their shells,

And taste the peaches in the homemade ice cream.

There’s a special sound with the shucking of corn

Yes, Remembrance is more than a dream.

The windows were open for the nighttime breeze;

The stars came and speckled the sky.

The wonders of God were accepted but still-

There were times that I just wondered “why?”

Contemplation of ‘things’ left me looking for more,

From the easiness of life I was torn.

Then the Zephyr of Christ breathed new life into me

On the night when again I was born.

]]> http://gamepoint.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/summer-breeze/feed/ 2 jmac04 http://gamepoint.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/wisdom-road/ http://gamepoint.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/wisdom-road/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:21:42 +0000 jmac04 http://gamepoint.wordpress.com/?p=9 ]]> Coming up there’s a railroad crossing

Or the left lane is closed ahead

No U-turn, Do Not Enter

Don’t turn here the end is dead.

Exit 70 will take you to Dallas

The construction means it’s all a mess

Must be careful ’cause the fines are doubled

Better buy a good GPS.

But I’m not looking for Madison Avenue

Every town has an MLK

Streets named for coaches and presidents

Even stories ’bout a lost highway.

And I’m not searching for ribbons of pavement

Or the widegated thoroughfare

Mass transit makes you lose direction

Where’s the narrow gate that gets you there?

What I really want’s a moral compass

I’m tired of kicking at a formless goad

My journey finds its redeeming value

When I’m traveling the Wisdom Road.

Scars are signs that a miraculous thing has occurred. The ability that God gave the human body to heal itself is amazing. The injured area is normally stronger and less vulnerable than it was before the injury.

We also become emotionally and spiritually stronger through other types of upheaval, but God miraculously brings us through and makes us stronger because of it. We are definitely changed – our skin looks different and our spirits evolve, but God heals and therefore, Scars are Beautiful.

My skin is warmed by summer’s heat

Each face I see is lit by care

Sent through my eyes by THE MERCY SEAT.

My heart rejoices like Siloam’s springs

When Holy God I kneel to meet

Emotions fail to explain the depth

of the amazing grace of THE MERCY SEAT.

The sunset’s glow seeps through my soul

A rest at night I gladly meet

But truth and grace are gifts of love

Provided by THE MERCY SEAT.

No reason for Your touch

No measure of Your love

No limit to Your grace

The taste of joy is on my lips

Glory to Your Name oh MERCY SEAT!

In the arid dessert

In the brightness of sunshine

In the darkness of starless night

It Blooms

Above the timberline in rocky crags

Beneath the shadow of giant redwoods

In winter’s fresh snowfall

In summer’s stifling heat

It Blooms

In the cry of a newborn baby

In the admiration of a child

In a mother’s smile

In a father’s correction

It Blooms

In the strong arm of a brother

In the simple trust of a sister

In the anger of an enemy

In the laughter of a friend

It Blooms

In refreshing rain

In blowing dust

At dusk as day ends

At dawn as day breaks

It Blooms

In the bird’s song

In the strummed chord

In the mind’s search

In the heart’s cry

It Blooms

In Hope

In The Truth

At the Cross

From the Tomb

In Victory

It Blooms

GRACE

Does a person want to use his rights? or does he want to BE right?

Societal, cultural or legal provision of rights does not mean using them or even accepting them is Right.

Right (or Righteousness) impels us to do the Right thing, not the thing that our government or society has given us the authority to do.

Do our elected officials have the legal right to criticize or point out flaws in each other? Yes, but they do it with the inference that you -”the people”- have the right to know. They use “the people” as an excuse or ruse to condemn.

Does everyone have a legal right to the due process of law? Yes, and a person that has committed a felony or misdemeanor makes the claim “I have my rights“- which society has granted to everyone the promise of innocence until proven guilty. Guilt must be proven according to law, and those rights are said to protect the innocent – but who do they really protect?

When is a man guilty? The term “innocent until proven guilty” has moved from the purpose of due process for the innocent to a belief system resulting in total denial of responsibility.

A man is guilty the moment he yields to temptation. No proof of guilt is necessary nor does an innocent verdict remove guilt for the action.

God’s standard is not precluded by societal, legal or cultural statements or opinions. Scripture tells us that “God is Love”, it never refers to tolerance.

God’s standard is changeless and that standard must be met. In this He is glorified. Right is determined by God.

The only Right we truly have is to be obedient to God.

I Have My Rights? – No… I Have My Master!

God is sovereign and Man is responsible.