Education and Enthusiasm

              Why Teaching Johnny To Read Won't Make Him Smarter


   It's an interesting concept that has filtered into today's mainstream of
thought.  Education seems to be the panacea of the day.  "If only we trained
our kids to know what the facts are, then they'd avoid the behaviors that are
most destructive to them.. and to our society..".. or so the experts claim.
Everyone likes this idea.. cuz education is something we can all do to one
another.. right?  I mean.. it may take a lot of effort.. but it's definitely
productive and does a great job of achieving the desired results.. right?

   HOGWASH!

   Look at our nation.  Look at what it's truly like.  Look at how crime has
grown so rampant.. and how human life is regarded so casually that when it is
destroyed, it is called something far less potent than murder.. or killing.
We'd rather choose words like "collateral damage" or "fetus" or
"euthenasia".. than deal with the ramifications of our actions.

   Ahh.. yes... Ramifications.  That's a big word ain't it?  How about
consequences?  Rewards?  Justice?  Pain?  Trouble?  Hardship?  We don't like
those.. unless they're positive.. of course.  But who ever heard of positive
hardship.. or helpful trouble?  or desirable pain?

   Is education actually working?   Or is morality at an all time low in this
country.. regardless of how many teachers we create?  Yes.. Morality.  What
good is technology if it only makes for more hardship for the next
generations?  If you take a look at *ANY* period of history.. you'll find
that the civilizations that flourished did so for one of two reasons --
either they came together under a united purpose.. or.. they came together
under a proper definition of morals, and left behind that which is immoral
for that which is moral.

   Ok.. wait a minute though.  Who am I to say what is moral and what isn't?
Let me suggest.. who are you to?  Who is anyone to designate proper morals
for any race of beings?  Wouldn't anyone who is imperfect be unable to
produce a perfect standard which you can judge morality by?  Wouldn't anyone
who is imperfect be unable to see to the core of every person's heart.. and
be able to always judge that which is harmful apart from that which is not?
Is it possible?

   So.. what about morality anyway.  Why is this important?  Shouldn't we
just go on enjoying our lives and just live and let live?  The problem with
that philosophy.. is that people who live and let live often want to be
helped when they are hurting.. and often want to be left alone when they hurt
others.. so that they can 'get away with' what *THEY* themselves don't
believe to be truly harmful to another.  They want to be.. you guessed it..
hypocrites.  They want to get help when harmed by those who harmed them
thinking they weren't harming anyone cuz their own opinion of what would harm
another differed from the person they harmed.  In other words.. they want to
have their cake and eat it too.

   But you can't have it both ways.  Either you define harm to be harmful in
all occasions.. or you define harm to be only harmful in occasions that suit
you for it to be harmful, and in all other occasions, you wash your hands of
the matter.  Is this fair though?

   Again.. who am I to say what is fair.. right?  Well who are you to?

   The problem we're up against is actually a simple.. but complex one too.
The solution is simple.. the problem is simply overblown and overgrown and
untreated.  I'm not about to say it's an easy solution.. but it's a very
doable one.

   So what is it, Mr. Smarty Pants?  Enthusiasm?  Come on.. you know that
just cuz you're loud and obnoxious or enjoyable to listen to doesn't mean
that people will agree with what you say!  It's not that simple.

   Yup.. it's not.  That's cuz you're definining "Enthusiasm" wrongly.  The
original definition of enthusaism comes from the words 'en' meaning "in"..
and "theos" meaning "God".  The actual solution for Johnny's intelligence
problem (or his ability to properly live on this planet with the best
results)  has to do with fixing something that is more core to his life than
his mind --- It's his heart.

   That's right.... his heart.  Without a heart that naturally wants to love
and care for others.. without a heart that naturally wants to sacrifice
itself.. without a heart that naturally gives all of itself to help those in
need.. Johnny may be smart, but he'll only abuse his intelligence... and lie,
cheat, steal, and carouse his way to the 'top' where he makes millions of
dollars which he squanders on expensive foods, luxurious living, and all
sorts of unneeded ventures.. all in the name of one thing -- making himself
'feel good'.

   Think about it.  Think hard.  Ok.. maybe not so hard.  I'll bet you know a
Johnny or two.  I'll bet you can think of one who is not so far away from
you.  I'll even bet that you can.. if you're open to it... think of a Johnny
who is reading the very words you are this very instant.  Sound preposterous?

   I don't think so.  But then again.. I'm imperfect.. and can't know
anything to be actually true.  Truth is all relative anyway.. what's true for
me isn't what's true for you (which means that this statement could be false
and true at the same time... which is totally stupid.. even though our most
learned of scientists may agree with it).

   So.. what's the solution again?  It's simple.  You gotta get Johnny's
heart fixed before you get Johnny's mind to work right.  Of course.. you
can't totally abandon the mind either.. but.. you need to totally revamp the
heart so that it lives.. not for itself.. but for that which is good.

   There you go again.. saying what is good and what isn't.  Who are you to
do that?  Again.. who are you to?

   I'm not gonna say I always know what's good.. nor am I going to say that I
can always tell truth from lies.. but I know of two people who can -- God and
His Son, Jesus.  And sure enough... They know all there is to know about this
heart-problem.  They have seen all of its effects.. for generation upon
generation.  And guess what?  They also developed the cure!!

   That's right, ladies and gentlemen.. The absolute cure for today's heart
problem isn't found in a cardiac ward.. but in the love that is big enough to
create a universe.. but small enough to manipulate subatomic particles.  It's
only in trusting in God.. through His Son.. that one can have one's
heart-problem dealt with once and for all!

   But.. why would this be the *only* cure?  I'm glad you asked.  For the
same reason that 1+1 is 2.  There's simply only one answer to the question.
Jesus.. a homeless man who lived 2000 years ago.. came on the scene with one
duty to accomplish -- to restore the breach created between God and mankind
when the first man and woman did the unthinkable -- they wanted their own
truth instead of God's.  They wanted their own ideas instead of His.  They
wanted the one thing God said for them not to have.. rather than simply being
satisfied with all the wonderful things that God had given them already.
So.. after wanting it.. they took it.  And in taking it.. they did something
so ultimately stupid -- they chose to believe that God was not the loving
person who He had demonstrated Himself as.. but that He was somehow
withholding from them something good that they deserved.

   So what did God do..?  After showing His love through countless
generations of Israelites.. using them as an example to the world of how He
treats those whom He loves.. (based on their behavior).. He did the ultimate.
He sent His own Word.. to be His Son.. in the form of a human.. and to pay
the ransom price for mankind.. by going through life as a human.. and living
for truth.. without ever forcing anyone to accept it.. without ever raising a
fist to anyone.. and daring to die.. without ever committing a single sin.
But not only that.. He took sin, itself.. upon *Himself*.. and died with it
in His body.. so that He could expunge it from anyone who put their faith in
Him.  Anyone who simply put their trust in Him.. to deliver from their innate
heart-condition.. and to give them eternal life.. without pain.. without
sorrow.. without trouble.. forever.

   Ok Ok.. yeah yeah.. I've heard your falderol tons of times.  But what
about all those clergy that end up doing all that junk?  How am I supposed to
believe that Jesus is the way if all these so-called "priests" of the faith
end up poisoning everyone they touch?

   Again.. simple answer.  Just cuz a person starts a journey with Jesus..
doesn't mean they are in any way forced by Jesus to complete it.  And.. just
cuz a person claims to have started that journey, doesn't mean that they
truly have.  See.. God doesn't tend to surmount our free will.. except to
accelerate us in the direction we've chosen to travel in.  God always lets us
make our own decisions.  We're not His puppets.. we're His creations.. and He
allows us to decide if we want to live or die.  It's up to us.  He made the
provision for us to live.. but we have to come to Him.. on *HIS* terms.. or
not at all.  After all.. a truly perfectly loving God would only set forth
perfect terms.. right?

   So.. the answer?  It's not poppycock.  It's not hogwash.  It's fact.
Trusting in Jesus and giving Him our all is the *ONLY* way to live.. even if
it costs us our lives on this planet.  Remember the thief on the cross.. it
wasn't too late for him.. and it's not too late for you.  But also.. remember
the parable of the lazy servant.. who got cut in two because he refused to be
ready for Jesus' return.  Anyone who is willing can turn their hearts to Him.
And anyone who is willing can turn their hearts away.  It's up to each one of
us... to individually accept *and* CONTINUE in His ways.. if we truly wish to
live forever.

   So.. about education?  Truthfully.. it's not just in our hands.  It's in
Johnny's hands.. not ours.  We can only hand him the truth.. it's up to him
to accept it.  Yet.. it is up to us to model that truth, or he'll discount it
totally as hypocritical refuse that goes out with yesterday's nintendo game.
Always remember... The truth may taste bitter if you're obese on lies.. but
it will taste great if you starve yourself from them.

   Jesus' arms are open.  What will you do?