GETTING SMART IN A DUMBING DOWN WORLD

HEBREW HONEYCOMB

William Andrew Dillard
GETTING SMART IN A DUMBING DOWN WORLD

A common castigation of educational processes in public schools is that of “Dumbing down,” the students when the challenges of modern times obviously call for wising up. By some accounts, the castigation appears to be true. One illustration of this is widespread inability to function in a real world. For instance, I am a tall individual who is often asked, “How tall are you?’ My reply is “I am three foot, forty.” Almost all of the time I follow up (of necessity); “I am four-foot twenty-eight.” Still getting a blank look, I offer, “Actually, I am five-foot, sixteen.” Youngsters for the most part simply do not get it, and some business people say, “Please stop it. I cannot do the math.” What???? My family is a family of teachers. At least one of them was forthrightly told by a principal, “You will not teach algorithms in this school. Please stop teaching the times-table.” What???? A youngster’s report of a measurement to me was “23 inches and five marks.” What??? Fractions, their names and meaning are unknown!” What??? On and on it goes, ad nauseam.
Obviously, modern days do not the millennium make, but technology has produced fantastic opportunities for Christian Education and sharing. Study and research has never been easier or more accessible, but the benefit of those things remains a reality only for those who are spiritually prepared to appreciate them and to use them. In recent years, the abundance of materials available retired most of libraries, except for rare and treasured works mostly irreplaceable. At the same time, expanded research capability and accessibility enlarged them many times over online. Accordingly, one would think that all those who take the name of the Lord in any degree of reverence would quickly excel in spiritual knowledge and ability. But such thinking would be wrong. What??? Technology is wonderful, but it is no substitute for a missing personal relationship, and ongoing fellowship, with God.
Most within the umbrella name of Christianity are not wising up. They are dumbing down! What??? Their excitement is in material things that fulfill their social desires, and in the acumen of leaders who frame their homilies psychologically to scratch itching ears. Spiritual blessings are equated to the number of people socially attracted, size of property, and /or financial flow; criteria that would elevate most non-Christian sects to the highest of “spiritual blessings.” “Who caused the walls of Jericho to fall down flat?” asked a Sunday school teacher only to recoil in horror that several in her class disavowed anything to do with it; some offering alibis.
The time remaining until all will meet the Creator; every tongue confessing and every knee bowing is extremely short. 2018 is not a time to dumb down, but a time to wise up! It is not a time for the Bible to be on the shelf, but living in human hearts!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015.

BACK TO SCHOOL

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.

Public schools, private schools, seminaries and universities all go back to class. Maybe it is time we all go back to school. The word study implies more than just a casusal reading for pleasure. The Greek word for study is spoudazw spoudazo, (spoo-dad’-zo) means to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:–do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study. There are certainly certain things that we gather as we look at going back to school: A set time to start and end each day, class gatherings, and an instructor. All these can be applied as we set aside a time of each day to read and study the Word of God. We can set aside a certain place to do our studies as we pray and meditate over the Word. We may also need reference books or instructors to help us in the quest for greater knowledge of the Word.

Yes, it should be back to school days for all of God’s people. Without time in the Word we will become weak and tossed too and fro from every wind of dectrine that comes along. There is a great falling away today from real Bible study and even some churches are doing away with Bible studies so that the church becomes weak and falls pray to preachers who fail to stand for Biblical preaching and Biblical standards.

We are given the reason for studing as being threefold: “approved unto God” , “needeth not to be ashamed”, and “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Retired Pastor Charles Moore,
Serving as Interim Fill-in Pastor, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Leavenworth, Ks

DISCIPLESHIP: DUMBING DOWN OR WISING UP

HEBREW HONEYCOMB

By William Andrew Dillard

DISCIPLESHIP: DUMBING DOWN OR WISING UP

A common castigation of educational processes in public schools is that of “Dumbing down,” the students when the challenges of modern times obviously call for wising up. By some accounts, the castigation appears to be true. One illustration of this is widespread inability to function in a real world. For instance, I am a tall individual who is often asked, “How tall are you?’ My reply is “I am three foot, forty.” Almost all of the time I follow up (of necessity); “I am four-foot twenty-eight.” Still getting a blank look, I offer, “Actually, I am five-foot, sixteen.” Youngsters for the most part simply do not get it, and I have had business people to say, “Please stop it. I cannot do the math.” What???? My family is a family of teachers. At least one of them was forthrightly told by her principal, “You will not teach algorithms in this school. Please stop teaching the times-table.” What???? A youngster’s report of a measurement to me was “23 inches and five marks.” What??? Fractions, their names and meaning are unknown!” What??? On and on it goes, ad nauseam. 

Obviously, modern days do not the millennium make, but technology has produced fantastic opportunities for Christian Education and sharing. Study and research has never been easier or more accessible, but the benefit of those things remain a reality only for those who are spiritually prepared to appreciate them and to use them. In recent years, because of the abundance of materials available, this writer gave away most of his library, keeping only those rare and treasured works that are mostly irreplaceable. At the same time he expanded his research capability and accessibility many times over online. One would think that all those who take the name of the Lord in any degree of reverence would quickly excel in spiritual knowledge and ability. But such thinking would be wrong. Technology is wonderful, but it is no substitute for a personal relationship, and fellowship, with God.

Most within the umbrella name of Christianity are not wising up. They are dumbing down! Their excitement is in material things that fulfill their social desires, and in the acumen of leaders who frame their homilies psychologically to scratch itching ears. Spiritual blessings are equated to the number of people socially attracted, size of property, and /or financial flow; criteria that would elevate most non-Christian sects to the highest of “spiritual blessings.” “Who caused the walls of Jericho to fall down flat?” asked a Sunday school teacher only to recoil in horror that several in her class disavowed anything to do with it; some offering alibis.
The time remaining until all will meet our maker; every tongue confessing and every knee bowing is extremely short. It is not a time to dumb down, but a time to wise up!

190 – July 08 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

 

His heart remained in Burma

Rev. and Mrs. J.G. Binney sailed in Nov. 1843 to Burma to open a training school for the Karen a Baptist training school to prepare native men for the gospel ministry. They were sent out by by the Triennial Convention in Philadelphia.

When the need became apparent, because of the successful evangelism of the Karen people in Burma, for a training school for native ministers, The Triennial Convention turned to J.G. Binney as the man to head up such an effort. To Dr. Binney this was a dream come true. He and his wife Juliette sailed in Nov. 1843. A school was opened in Maulmain with thirteen adult students, all converts from heathenism. After five grueling years, Mrs. Binney’s health broke and they were forced to return to the States, where Dr. Binney pastored for a brief period, and then became President of Columbian College, but his heart was still in Burma.

They sailed again for Burma in 1859. The school was now moved to Rangoon and opened with 80 students. Dr. Binney carried the full load as he preached, translated, and published. Strength weakening, he was again compelled to leave Burma.

On furlough his health improved and he began to pastor a church in Savannah, Georgia. Joseph Getchell Binney was the third child in a rather affluent family in Boston, having been born in Dec. 1807. He contracted whooping cough at the end of his first year that affected him the rest of his life.

His father, through a foolish business move lost his modest wealth and left the family, not to return until the death of Joseph’s mother when he was ten, when his grandmother moved in to take his mother’s place.

He was saved at twenty, united with the Congregational church, entered Yale to prepare for missionary service, and became a Baptist upon examining the subject of “baptism” in studying for a debate. He was baptized in 1830. On July 9, 1877, he resigned his church that he might return to his first love.

However, he never made it back, and he died on Nov. 26, and was buried in the Indian Ocean.

Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson, pp. 281-82.

The post 190 – July 08 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST appeared first on The Trumpet Online.

 

 

Characteristics of Loyal Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things,” 1 Corinthians 13:7.
If my son comes home from school tomorrow and tells me he has an A in science, I am going to believe him. Why would I believe him? Since he is my son and I love him, I want to believe him and I would absolutely love for that to be true. I want him to do his best and make good grades, and if he thinks he is doing well, I want to celebrate his success. But, what will happen when he brings home his report card and his grade in science is not an A? Will I love him any less? If my love were dependent upon his performance, then it would not be love at all, would it?
Of course, to love someone means we must be willing to put up with mistakes and failures. That is why, in verse 7 of 1 Corinthians 13, it states that love “beareth all things” and “endureth all things.” The strength of our love is tested when the recipients of our love are less than lovable. Think about it. It is easy to love someone who loves you back and makes life easier for you. As long as everything is going smoothly, love flows freely. But, what about when things do not go smoothly? What about when my child brings home a bad grade? It is in these moments when love is difficult and the genuineness of our love is tested.
The purpose of love is to strengthen the other person, helping him to realize his full potential as a child of God. That does not happen overnight, and there are many bumps along the way. Love believes all things and hopes all things, but it also endures all things.

JUST A THOUGHT
Will you show loyal love today?
Mark Clements

Hypocritical Hearers

 

“Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid,” Isaiah 29:14.

 

As our children have grown, they have each attended the same elementary school in our neighborhood. The route from our house to the school is a route I could drive blindfolded (although I do not). Needless to say, sometimes I zone out during the drive because it is so familiar. The kids, on the other hand, notice everything along the short route.  They are filled with wonder and excitement with everything they see, from big things such as weather transitions and changing leaves on the trees to small things such as barking dogs and darting squirrels. The difference in the way we enjoy the drive is the difference in perception. I usually perceive the drive as simply another task I must accomplish, while my children usually perceive the drive as an exciting journey to a new daily adventure at school.

 

Sometimes our approaches to worship take the same divergent paths. Some days we worship God with awestruck wonder at His presence and power, noticing even the smallest details that showcase His glory and rightly responding with worship and obedience. Other days we simply go through the motions of worship routinely. We might speak, sing and perform the right things, but we are bereft of heartfelt devotion and consequently find ourselves missing the peace, joy and passion for obedience that come as a result of worship. Thankfully, God will not stop showing up, speaking and performing wondrous things that command our attention and compel us to worship Him.

 

 

JUST A THOUGHT

 

Will you worship God in spirit and in truth today?

 

 

Mark Clements

 

 

206 – July 25 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

Christ’s Ambassador to the West

 

Washington would be called the “Father of America,” but John Mason Peck would be known “God’s Ambassador to the Mississippi Valley.” He was born on Oct. 21, 1789 and in 1807 began teaching school. In 1809 he married Sally Paine, who proved to be an ideal wife for the pioneering life that God had in store for him. When their first child was born, the Peck’s hesitated to have the baby sprinkled which led them to a sincere study of the scriptures which led them to oppose infant baptism. Upon moving to New York they discovered a Baptist church in New Durham, and they were baptized in Sept. 1811. The church had services only once per month, and the people insisted that Peck preach to them when the pastor wasn’t present. In time he became pastor and continued in the ministry for 46 years. The Peck’s met Luther Rice and their hearts were turned toward Missions but not East Asia but to the Western United States.  After studying for a year under Dr. Wm. Staughton in Philadelphia, the Triennial Convention met in that city in 1817. The Peck’s were accepted as missionaries to the West, being commissioned on May 18, 1817. He was not yet 28 years old when he wrote in his diary, “I have now put my hand to the plow, O Lord may I never turn back…” On July 25, 1817, with his wife and three little children in a small one- horse wagon, they began the journey of over 1,000 miles that would take over four months through undeveloped regions, and on Dec. 1 they entered St. Louis. In April 1818  the first baptismal service took place in the Mississippi River in the midst of a hostile environment, where the Bible had been burned and coarse songs were songs and blasphemy’s were hurled at them. Peck began a Baptist church making it his base of operations in the West. His trials were great. His oldest son died, sicknesses were many, hostile Indians were everywhere, he had to fight anti-missionary forces, his support was cut off by the Baptist Convention. But he fought on as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He died on March 14, 1858.

 

Dr. Greg J. Dixon: adapted From: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson, pp. 304-06.

 

 

 

The Meaning Of Life, Love And Family : Video Clips From The Coolest One

God gives us purpose. God is the purpose. We must come to the realization that God does things with a purpose in mind. May we always search for that purpose.

 

The Meaning Of Life, Love And Family : Video Clips From The Coolest One.

Amazing Speech at Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast

Amazing Speech at Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast.

The truth about children with ‘gay’ parents

A group of professors has debunked the research of a sociologist, finding that children with heterosexual parents do better in school than those raised by homosexuals.
Dr. Douglas Allen, Burnaby Mountain professor of economics at Simon Fraser University, tells OneNewsNow that he, Dr. Catherine Pakaluk of Ave Marie University, and Dr. Joseph Price of Brigham Young University took a look at a large study conducted by Stanford sociologist Dr. Michael Rosenfeld that found no difference between children who are reared by heterosexual parents and those raised by homosexual couples. The three found a mistake in the research that completely alters the outcome.
“It turns out the children from these homes don’t do as well. They’re about 35 percent more likely to fail a grade,” Allen reports about youngsters raised by homosexuals.
But homosexual households, adds Allen, are not the only ones that prove problematic for children’s educational success.
“If you grow up with your parents cohabitating, but they’re heterosexual, you’re about 15 percent more likely than [those with] same-sex parents to make normal progress through schools,” the professor explains. “If you have a never-marriedsingle mom, you’re about 23 percent more likely to make normal progress through school compared to growing up in a same-sex household.”
According to Allen, every time a study that claims no harm to children raised by same-gender couples is released, it has been successfully disputed when put under a microscope.
“The gold standard is to have married, heterosexual parents,” Allen concludes. “I mean, every study pretty well finds that. It doesn’t matter what dimension you’re looking at; there’s no question — the gold standard is having two parents, married, opposite sex.”
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Demography. Since it is available by subscription only, Allen suggests finding a library that subscribes.
Allen is an award-winning teacher and a member of the Ruth Institute Circle of Experts.